CVE-2020-23162
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Pyrescom Termod4 time management devices allows remote attackers to read session files containing plain-text user credentials due to weak encryption. It affects organizations using Termod4 devices for time tracking and management before version 10.04k. Attackers can obtain administrative credentials and potentially compromise the entire system.
💻 Affected Systems
- Pyrescom Termod4 time management device
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full system compromise where attackers gain administrative access, manipulate time records, deploy ransomware, or pivot to other network systems.
Likely Case
Unauthorized access to sensitive employee data, time record manipulation, and potential credential reuse attacks against other systems.
If Mitigated
Limited to credential exposure without successful authentication bypass if strong network segmentation and monitoring are in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Public proof-of-concept code exists on GitHub. Exploitation requires network access to the device but no authentication.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 10.04k and later
Vendor Advisory: https://pyres.com/en/solutions/termod-4/
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Contact Pyrescom support for firmware update 10.04k or later. 2. Backup device configuration. 3. Apply firmware update via web interface or management console. 4. Restart device. 5. Verify update and reconfigure if necessary.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network segmentation and access control
allRestrict network access to Termod4 devices to only authorized management systems using firewall rules.
Credential rotation
allChange all user passwords on the device immediately, especially administrative accounts.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate the device in a dedicated VLAN with strict firewall rules allowing only necessary traffic
- Implement network monitoring for unusual access patterns to the device and credential extraction attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check device firmware version via web interface. If version is below 10.04k, the device is vulnerable.Check Version:
Access device web interface and navigate to System Information or Settings page to view firmware version.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify firmware version is 10.04k or higher via web interface and test that session files are no longer accessible or are properly encrypted.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual access to session files
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful login from new IP
- Administrative actions from unexpected IP addresses
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests to session file paths from unauthorized IPs
- Unusual outbound connections from the device
SIEM Query:
source="termod4" AND (url="*session*" OR url="*credential*") AND NOT src_ip IN [authorized_management_ips]🔗 References
- https://github.com/Outpost24/Pyrescom-Termod-PoC
- https://outpost24.com/blog/multiple-vulnerabilities-discovered-in-Pyrescom-Termod4-smart-device
- https://pyres.com/en/solutions/termod-4/
- https://github.com/Outpost24/Pyrescom-Termod-PoC
- https://outpost24.com/blog/multiple-vulnerabilities-discovered-in-Pyrescom-Termod4-smart-device
- https://pyres.com/en/solutions/termod-4/
