CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-36669NVD status: Modified

ngc_indoor_unit: Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality

CVE-2023-36669 is a critical-severity missing authentication for critical functionality vulnerability in ngc_indoor_unit from Kratosdefense, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 11.4 as the first without the flaw, so updating ngc_indoor_unit to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.87% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 59% of scored CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Update ngc_indoor_unit to 11.4 or a later version.
  2. Update Ngc Indoor Unit Firmware to 11.4 or a later version.
  3. Read the advisory on kratosdefense.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  4. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Kratosdefensengc_indoor_unitbefore 11.411.4
KratosdefenseNgc Indoor Unit Firmwarebefore 11.411.4

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
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
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:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Official description

Missing Authentication for a Critical Function within the Kratos NGC Indoor Unit (IDU) before 11.4 allows remote attackers to obtain arbitrary control of the IDU/ODU system. Any attacker with layer-3 network access to the IDU can impersonate the Touch Panel Unit (TPU) within the IDU by sending crafted TCP requests to the IDU.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality

The product does not perform any authentication for functionality that requires a provable user identity or consumes a significant amount of resources.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
  • Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, consider using libraries with authentication capabilities such as OpenSSL or the ESAPI Authenticator.
  • When storing data in the cloud (e.g., S3 buckets, Azure blobs, Google Cloud Storage, etc.), use the provider's controls to require strong authentication for users who should be allowed to access the data.

More Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality vulnerabilities (CWE-306)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other references

Other vulnerabilities in ngc_indoor_unit

All ngc_indoor_unit vulnerabilities

Recent Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality vulnerabilities

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