CORE-2003-0403: Axis Network Camera HTTP Authentication Bypass

[CORE Security Technologies Advisories <advisories () coresecurity com>]

                        Core Security Technologies Advisory
                            http://www.coresecurity.com

                   Axis Network Camera HTTP Authentication Bypass



Date Published: 2003-05-27

Last Update: 2003-05-23

Advisory ID: CORE-2003-0403

Bugtraq ID: 7652

CVE Name: CAN-2003-0240

Title: Axis Network Camera HTTP Authentication Bypass

Class: Access Validation Error

Remotely Exploitable: Yes

Locally Exploitable: No

Advisory URL:
 http://www.coresecurity.com/common/showdoc.php?idx=329&idxseccion=10

Vendors contacted:
 - Axis Communications
   . Core Notification: 2003-04-10
   . Notification acknowledged by Axis: 2003-04-17
   . 2.34 Release candidate for the Axis 2400/2401 Video Servers
     available: 2003-04-17
   . Fixed versions available for all affected products: 2003-05-27

Release Mode: COORDINATED RELEASE


*Vulnerability Description:*

 An Axis Network Camera captures and transmits live images directly
 over an IP network (e.g. LAN/intranet/Internet), enabling users to
 remotely view and/or manage the camera from a Web browser on any
 computer. For more information see http://www.axis.com

 After setting up the Axis Camera, the user is provided with
 Web-based Administration Tools for configuring and managing the
 camera by accessing http://camera-ip/admin/admin.shtml, which
 requires a username and password.

 We have discovered the following security vulnerability: by accessing
    http://camera-ip//admin/admin.shtml
 (notice the double slash) the authentication for "admin" is bypassed
 and an attacker gains direct access to the configuration.

 Using this vulnerability, an attacker can reset the root password,
 then enable the telnet server by modifying configuration files,
 giving the attacker interactive access to a Unix like command line,
 allowing her to execute arbitrary commands as root.


*Vulnerable Packages:*

 . AXIS 2100 Network Camera versions 2.32 and previous
 . AXIS 2110 Network Camera versions 2.32 and previous
 . AXIS 2120 Network Camera versions 2.32 and previous
 . AXIS 2130 PTZ Network Camera versions 2.32 and previous
 . AXIS 2400 Video Server versions 2.32 and previous
 . AXIS 2401 Video Server versions 2.32 and previous
 . AXIS 2420 Network Camera versions 2.32 and previous
 . AXIS 2460 Network DVR versions 3.00 and previous
 . AXIS 250S Video Server versions 3.02 and previous


*Solution/Vendor Information/Workaround:*

 Axis Communications has released new firmwares closing this
 vulnerability in its Network Camera and Video Server products.

 New releases are available at:

 AXIS 2100 Network Camera: 2.34
  ftp://ftp.axis.com/pub_soft/cam_srv/cam_2100/2_34/

 AXIS 2110 Network Camera: 2.34
  ftp://ftp.axis.com/pub_soft/cam_srv/cam_2110/2_34/

 AXIS 2120 Network Camera: 2.34
  ftp://ftp.axis.com/pub_soft/cam_srv/cam_2120/2_34/

 AXIS 2130 Network Camera: 2.34
  ftp://ftp.axis.com/pub_soft/cam_srv/cam_2130/2_34/

 AXIS 2400 Video Server: 2.34
  ftp://ftp.axis.com/pub_soft/cam_srv/cam_2400/2_34/

 AXIS 2401 Video Server: 2.34
  ftp://ftp.axis.com/pub_soft/cam_srv/cam_2401/2_34/

 AXIS 2420 Network Camera: 2.34
  ftp://ftp.axis.com/pub_soft/cam_srv/cam_2420/2_34/

 AXIS 2460 Network DVR: 3.10
  ftp://ftp.axis.com/pub_soft/cam_srv/cam_2460/3_10/

 AXIS 250S Video Server: 3.03
  ftp://ftp.axis.com/pub_soft/cam_srv/cam_250s/3_03/

 Recommended Actions:
 We strongly recommend that all devices are updated to these
 firmware versions.


*Credits:*

 This vulnerability was found by Juliano Rizzo from Core Security
 Technologies.

 We wish to thank Joacim Tullberg from Axis for his quick response to
 this issue.


*Technical Description - Exploit/Concept Code:*

 We have discovered the following security vulnerability: by accessing
  http://camera-ip//admin/admin.shtml
 (notice the double slash) the authentication for "admin" is bypassed
 and an attacker gains direct access to the configuration.

 In the same way, an attacker can access the other administration
 tools for the camera, for example:
  http://camera-ip//admin/img_general.shtml
  http://camera-ip//admin/netw_tcp.shtml
  http://camera-ip//admin/sys_date.shtml
  http://camera-ip//admin/com_port.shtml
  http://camera-ip//admin/op_general.shtml
  http://camera-ip//admin/sys_motiond.shtml

 Note that the workaround for a recently published Axis HTTP Server
 vulnerability (see reference [1]) was to add authentication to
 some particular paths. With this vulnerability the authentication
 can be bypassed, so the mentioned Information Disclosure
 vulnerability can still be exploited.

 The affected Axis devices run a Linux like operating system. With
 this vulnerability an attacker can reset the root password. Then
 using the default open ftp server, the attacker can download
 configuration files, modify these files and upload them again.
 Modifying /etc/inittab it is possible to enable the Telnet server
 (see [2] a technical note explaining how to enable Telnet support),
 giving the attacker interactive access to a Unix like command line.
 Axis provides free developer tools (see [3]), so it is feasible
 for an attacker to build tools like port scanners or proxies to
 start attacks from the compromised camera (which are usually
 installed inside internal networks) which could lead to the
 compromise of the internal network.


*References:*

 [1] Axis Communications HTTP Server Messages Information Disclosure
 Vulnerability (published 2003-02-28):
 http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/6980/

 [2] Technical Note: Enable Telnet Support in the Axis Camera Servers
 http://www.axis.com/techsup/cam_servers/tech_notes/telnet_support.htm
 As stated in this page: "You should enable this option for experimental
 use only. Never leave the Telnet access enabled when having the
 Network Camera installed on a public site."

 [3] Axis' developer site (where a compiler and other development
 tools can be downloaded):
 http://developer.axis.com/


*About Core Security Technologies*

 Core Security Technologies develops strategic security solutions for
 Fortune 1000 corporations, government agencies and military
 organizations. The company offers information security software and
 services designed to assess risk and protect and manage information
 assets.
 Headquartered in Boston, MA, Core Security Technologies can be
 reached at 617-399-6980 or on the Web at http://www.coresecurity.com.

 To learn more about CORE IMPACT, the first comprehensive penetration
 testing framework, visit:
 http://www.coresecurity.com/products/coreimpact


*DISCLAIMER:*

 The contents of this advisory are copyright (c) 2003 CORE Security
 Technologies and may be distributed freely provided that no fee is
 charged for this distribution and proper credit is given.

$Id: Axis-advisory.txt,v 1.7 2003/05/23 20:17:29 carlos Exp $