CVE-2014-7279
📋 TL;DR
The Konke Smart Plug K has an authentication bypass vulnerability in its TELNET service. Remote attackers can gain full device control by connecting to port 23 without credentials. This affects all users of the vulnerable smart plug.
💻 Affected Systems
- Konke Smart Plug K
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete device takeover allowing attackers to control connected appliances, install malware, pivot to other network devices, or cause physical damage through electrical manipulation.
Likely Case
Unauthorized access to smart plug allowing attackers to turn devices on/off, monitor usage patterns, or use as foothold for further network attacks.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if device is isolated from internet and internal network, with only local physical access possible.
🎯 Exploit Status
Simple TELNET connection to port 23 grants immediate access. Exploit code is publicly available.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Unknown
Vendor Advisory: Not available
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
No official patch available. Consider device replacement or implementing workarounds.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Block TELNET Port
linuxBlock port 23 at network perimeter and internally using firewall rules
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 23 -j DROP
iptables -A OUTPUT -p tcp --dport 23 -j DROP
Network Segmentation
allIsolate smart plug on separate VLAN without internet access
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Physically disconnect device from network
- Replace with newer model from different vendor
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Attempt TELNET connection: telnet [device_ip] 23. If connection succeeds without authentication prompt, device is vulnerable.Check Version:
No standard version check command available for this embedded device.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify TELNET port 23 is closed or requires authentication. Use nmap scan: nmap -p 23 [device_ip]📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- TELNET connection attempts from unexpected sources
- Successful TELNET logins without authentication
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections from device to suspicious IPs
- Unusual port 23 traffic patterns
SIEM Query:
source_port=23 OR dest_port=23 AND (action="accept" OR status="success")