CVE-2018-5469

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2018-5469?

CVE-2018-5469 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL). This vulnerability allows attackers to perform brute-force attacks against the web interface authentication of Belden Hirschmann industrial switches. Attackers can repeatedly guess login credentials without being blocked, potentially gaining unauthorized access to network devices. Organizations using affected Belden Hirschmann switch models are at risk.

9.8 CRITICAL

Authentication Bypass

📋 TL;DR

This vulnerability allows attackers to perform brute-force attacks against the web interface authentication of Belden Hirschmann industrial switches. Attackers can repeatedly guess login credentials without being blocked, potentially gaining unauthorized access to network devices. Organizations using affected Belden Hirschmann switch models are at risk.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Belden Hirschmann RS
RSR
RSB
MACH100
MACH1000
MACH4000
MS
OCTOPUS Classic Platform Switches

Versions: All versions prior to patched firmware

Operating Systems: Embedded switch firmware

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: All default configurations are vulnerable. The web interface must be enabled for exploitation.

📦 What is this software?

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Complete compromise of industrial network switches leading to network disruption, data interception, or manipulation of industrial control systems.

🟠

Likely Case

Unauthorized access to switch configuration allowing network reconnaissance, traffic redirection, or denial of service.

🟢

If Mitigated

Failed authentication attempts logged but no successful compromise due to rate limiting or network segmentation.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH - Web interfaces exposed to internet are directly vulnerable to automated brute-force attacks.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Internal attackers or compromised internal systems could exploit this vulnerability.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: LIKELY

Unauthenticated Exploit: ⚠️ Yes

Complexity: LOW

Simple brute-force attack requiring only network access to web interface. No authentication needed to attempt login.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Check vendor advisory for specific firmware versions

Vendor Advisory: https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-065-01

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Check current firmware version. 2. Download patched firmware from Belden Hirschmann support portal. 3. Backup current configuration. 4. Apply firmware update following vendor instructions. 5. Verify update and restore configuration if needed.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable Web Interface

all

Disable the vulnerable web interface and use alternative management methods

Consult device documentation for web interface disable commands

Network Segmentation

all

Restrict access to switch management interfaces to authorized networks only

Configure firewall rules to limit access to switch IP addresses on management VLAN

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement network access controls to restrict management interface access to trusted IPs only
Enable logging and monitoring for failed authentication attempts on switch interfaces

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check if web interface allows unlimited failed login attempts without lockout or delay

Check Version:

Check web interface or CLI for firmware version (vendor-specific commands)

Verify Fix Applied:

Test that failed login attempts trigger account lockout or significant delay after patch

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Multiple failed login attempts from single IP
Rapid succession authentication failures

Network Indicators:

High volume of HTTP POST requests to login endpoints
Traffic patterns suggesting automated credential guessing

SIEM Query:

source="switch_logs" AND (event_type="authentication_failure" COUNT > 10 WITHIN 5min)

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2018-5469

CVSS v3 Score: 9.8 (CRITICAL)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE: CWE-307

Published: March 6, 2018

Last Updated: November 21, 2024

🔗 References

http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/103340 Third Party Advisory,VDB Entry
https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-065-01 Mitigation,Third Party Advisory,US Government Resource
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/103340 Third Party Advisory,VDB Entry
https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-065-01 Mitigation,Third Party Advisory,US Government Resource

📋 TL;DR

💻 Affected Systems

📦 What is this software?

Hirschmann M1 8mm Sc by Belden

Hirschmann M1 8sfp by Belden

Hirschmann M1 8sm Sc by Belden

Hirschmann M1 8tp Rj45 by Belden

Hirschmann Mach102 24tp F by Belden

Hirschmann Mach102 24tp Fr by Belden

Hirschmann Mach102 8tp by Belden

Hirschmann Mach102 8tp F by Belden

Hirschmann Mach102 8tp Fr by Belden

Hirschmann Mach102 8tp R by Belden

Hirschmann Mach104 16tx Poep by Belden

Hirschmann Mach104 16tx Poep E by Belden

Hirschmann Mach104 16tx Poep E L3p by Belden

Hirschmann Mach104 16tx Poep R by Belden

Hirschmann Mach104 16tx Poep R L3p by Belden

Hirschmann Mach104 16tx Poep \+2x by Belden

Hirschmann Mach104 16tx Poep \+2x E by Belden

Hirschmann Mach104 16tx Poep \+2x E L3p by Belden

Hirschmann Mach104 16tx Poep \+2x R by Belden

Hirschmann Mach104 16tx Poep \+2x R L3p by Belden

Hirschmann Mach104 16tx Poep \+2x L3p by Belden

Hirschmann Mach104 16tx Poep L3p by Belden

Hirschmann Mach104 20tx F by Belden

Hirschmann Mach104 20tx F 4poe by Belden

Hirschmann Mach104 20tx F L3p by Belden

Hirschmann Mach104 20tx Fr by Belden

Hirschmann Mach104 20tx Fr L3p by Belden

Hirschmann Mach4002 24g L2p by Belden

Hirschmann Mach4002 24g L3e by Belden

Hirschmann Mach4002 24g L3p by Belden

Hirschmann Mach4002 24g\+3x L2p by Belden

Hirschmann Mach4002 24g\+3x L3e by Belden

Hirschmann Mach4002 24g\+3x L3p by Belden

Hirschmann Mach4002 48g L2p by Belden

Hirschmann Mach4002 48g L3e by Belden

Hirschmann Mach4002 48g L3p by Belden

Hirschmann Mach4002 48g\+3x L2p by Belden

Hirschmann Mach4002 48g\+3x L3e by Belden

Hirschmann Mach4002 48g\+3x L3p by Belden

Hirschmann Ms20 0800eccp by Belden

Hirschmann Ms20 0800saae by Belden

Hirschmann Ms20 0800saap by Belden

Hirschmann Ms20 1600eccp by Belden

Hirschmann Ms20 1600saae by Belden

Hirschmann Ms20 1600saap by Belden

Hirschmann Ms30 0802saae by Belden

Hirschmann Ms30 0802saap by Belden

Hirschmann Ms30 1602saae by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus 16m by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus 16m 8poe by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus 16m Train by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus 16m Train Bp by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus 24m by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus 24m 8 Poe by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus 24m Train by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus 24m Train Bp by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus 5tx Eec by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus 8m by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus 8m 6poe by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus 8m 8poe by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus 8m Train by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus 8m Train Bp by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus 8tx Eec by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus 8tx Poe Eec by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus Os20 000900t5t5tafbhh by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus Os20 000900t5t5tnebhh by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus Os20 0010001m1mtrephh by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus Os20 0010001s1strephh by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus Os20 0010004m4mtrephh by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus Os20 0010004s4strephh by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus Os20 001000t5t5tafuhb by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus Os20 001000t5t5tneuhb by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus Os24 080900t5t5tffbhh by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus Os24 080900t5t5tnebhh by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus Os24 081000t5t5tffuhb by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus Os24 081000t5t5tneuhb by Belden

Hirschmann Octopus Os30 by Belden