1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

  • CVSS v3 8.8
  • ATTENTION: low skill level to exploit
  • Vendor: Kantech, a subsidiary of Johnson Controls
  • Equipment: EntraPass
  • Vulnerability: Improper Access Control

2. RISK EVALUATION

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could potentially allow an authorized low-privileged user to gain full system-level privileges.

3. TECHNICAL DETAILS

3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS

Johnson Controls reports the vulnerability affects the following Kantech EntraPass software:

  • Special Edition: All versions up to and including v8.22
  • Corporate Edition: All versions up to and including v8.22
  • Global Edition: All versions up to and including v8.22

3.2 VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW

3.2.1    IMPROPER ACCESS CONTROL CWE-284

There is a vulnerability in Kantech EntraPass that could allow an authorized low-privileged user to gain full system-level privileges by replacing critical files with specifically crafted files.

CVE-2020-9046 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 8.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).

3.3 BACKGROUND

  • CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Critical Manufacturing
  • COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide
  • COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: Ireland

3.4 RESEARCHER

Johnson Controls reported this vulnerability to CISA.

4. MITIGATIONS

Johnson Controls recommends users upgrade all Kantech EntraPass Editions to Version 8.23

For more detailed mitigation instructions, please see Johnson Controls Product Security Advisory JCI-PSA-2020-6 v1

CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of this vulnerability. Specifically, users should:

  • Exercise principles of least privilege.

CISA reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures.

CISA also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS webpage on us-cert.gov. Several recommended practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies.

Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available on the ICS webpage on us-cert.gov in the Technical Information Paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B–Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies.

Organizations observing any suspected malicious activity should follow their established internal procedures and report their findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.

CISA also recommends users take the following measures to protect themselves from social engineering attacks: 

  • Do not click web links or open unsolicited attachments in email messages. 
  • Refer to Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams for more information on avoiding email scams. 
  • Refer to Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information on social engineering attacks.

No known public exploits specifically target this vulnerability. This vulnerability is not exploitable remotely.

Source:

https://www.us-cert.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-20-147-02