CVE-2024-37187
📋 TL;DR
Advantech ADAM-5550 industrial controllers store and transmit user credentials using only base64 encoding, which provides no meaningful encryption. This allows attackers who gain access to the system or network traffic to easily decode and steal credentials. Organizations using these industrial control systems in manufacturing, energy, or infrastructure sectors are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Advantech ADAM-5550
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers obtain administrative credentials, gain full control of industrial controllers, manipulate industrial processes, cause physical damage, or disrupt critical operations.
Likely Case
Attackers with network access steal credentials, gain unauthorized access to industrial control systems, and potentially disrupt operations or conduct reconnaissance for further attacks.
If Mitigated
With proper network segmentation and access controls, attackers cannot reach the vulnerable systems, limiting exposure to internal threats only.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires network access to the device or access to stored credential files. Base64 decoding is trivial and widely available in all programming languages.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Check Advantech advisory for specific firmware version
Vendor Advisory: https://www.advantech.com/support/details/firmware?id=1OEL9S00V0
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download latest firmware from Advantech support portal. 2. Backup current configuration. 3. Upload new firmware via web interface. 4. Restart device. 5. Verify credentials are now properly encrypted.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network Segmentation
allIsolate ADAM-5550 controllers in dedicated industrial network segments with strict firewall rules
Credential Rotation
allChange all passwords on affected devices to reduce impact if credentials are compromised
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network access controls to limit who can communicate with ADAM-5550 devices
- Monitor network traffic to/from these devices for credential extraction attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check if credentials in configuration files or network traffic appear as base64 encoded strings (typically ending with = or == padding)Check Version:
Check firmware version via web interface at http://[device-ip]/status or via serial consoleVerify Fix Applied:
After patching, verify credentials are no longer stored or transmitted as base64 encoded plaintext📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Multiple failed login attempts
- Unauthorized configuration changes
- Unexpected credential access
Network Indicators:
- Base64 encoded strings in network traffic to/from port 80/443 of ADAM-5550
- Credential extraction patterns
SIEM Query:
source_ip=[ADAM-5550_IP] AND (http_content CONTAINS "base64" OR packet_payload MATCHES "[A-Za-z0-9+/=]{20,}")