Phicomm Routers: Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm
CVE-2022-25218 is a high-severity use of a broken or risky cryptographic algorithm vulnerability in Phicomm Routers, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.99% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 63% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of Phicomm Routers you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phicomm Routers | Phicomm Routers | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Phicomm | K2 Firmware | 22.5.9.163 and earlier | Not stated |
| Phicomm | K3 Firmware | 21.5.37.246 and earlier | Not stated |
| Phicomm | K3c Firmware | 32.1.15.93 and earlier | Not stated |
| Phicomm | K2g Firmware | 22.6.3.20 and earlier | Not stated |
| Phicomm | K2p Firmware | 20.4.1.7 and earlier | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.1 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 2.0 | 9.3 | High | NVD |
Official description
The use of the RSA algorithm without OAEP, or any other padding scheme, in telnetd_startup, allows an unauthenticated attacker on the local area network to achieve a significant degree of control over the "plaintext" to which an arbitrary blob of ciphertext will be decrypted by OpenSSL's RSA_public_decrypt() function. This weakness allows the attacker to manipulate the various iterations of the telnetd startup state machine and eventually obtain a root shell on the device, by means of an exchange of crafted UDP packets. In all versions but K2 22.5.9.163 and K3C 32.1.15.93 a successful attack also requires the exploitation of a null-byte interaction error (CVE-2022-25219).
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm
The product uses a broken or risky cryptographic algorithm or protocol.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Ensure that the design allows one cryptographic algorithm to be replaced with another in the next generation or version. Where possible, use wrappers to make the interfaces uniform. This will make it easier to upgrade to stronger algorithms. With hardware, design the product at the Intellectual Property (IP) level so that one cryptographic algorithm can be replaced with another in the next generation of the hardware product.
- Carefully manage and protect cryptographic keys (see CWE-320). If the keys can be guessed or stolen, then the strength of the cryptography itself is irrelevant.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. Industry-standard implementations will save development time and may be more likely to avoid errors that can occur during implementation of cryptographic algorithms. Consider the ESAPI Encryption feature.
More Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm vulnerabilities (CWE-327)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Technical write-ups (may include proof of concept)
- tenable.com/security/research/tra-2022-01Exploit, Third Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in Phicomm Routers
- 7.8 High severity
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