CVE-2023-22906
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to gain root access to affected Hero Qubo HCD01_02 devices via TELNET. The devices have TELNET enabled by default with root privileges and no password. This affects all users of these specific IoT devices with the vulnerable firmware version.
💻 Affected Systems
- Hero Qubo HCD01_02
📦 What is this software?
Qubo Hcd01 Firmware by Heroelectronix
Qubo Hcd02 Firmware by Heroelectronix
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete device compromise allowing attackers to install malware, pivot to internal networks, exfiltrate data, or use device as botnet member.
Likely Case
Remote attackers gaining full control of device, modifying configurations, stealing data, or using device for DDoS attacks.
If Mitigated
No impact if TELNET is disabled or properly secured with authentication.
🎯 Exploit Status
Simple TELNET connection to device IP on port 23 provides root shell without authentication.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Unknown
Vendor Advisory: None known
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
No official patch available. Contact vendor for updated firmware if available.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable TELNET service
linuxPermanently disable TELNET daemon on device
telnetd -l /bin/login -p 23
Block TELNET at firewall
linuxBlock inbound TELNET connections at network perimeter
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 23 -j DROP
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate affected devices in separate VLAN with strict network segmentation
- Implement network monitoring for TELNET connections to device IPs
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Attempt TELNET connection to device IP on port 23. If you get root shell without password, device is vulnerable.Check Version:
Check device web interface or console for firmware version informationVerify Fix Applied:
Attempt TELNET connection after applying workarounds. Connection should be refused or require authentication.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Failed TELNET authentication attempts
- Successful TELNET connections from unexpected sources
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections from device to suspicious IPs
- Unusual network traffic patterns from device
SIEM Query:
source_port=23 OR destination_port=23 AND (device_type="Hero Qubo" OR device_vendor="Hero")