ICS Advisory

Baicells Nova

Release Date
Alert Code
ICSA-23-033-03

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

  • CVSS v3 9.8
  • ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely/low attack complexity 
  • Vendor: Baicells Technologies 
  • Equipment: Nova 
  • Vulnerability: Command Injection 

2. RISK EVALUATION

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary commands. 

3. TECHNICAL DETAILS

3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS

Baicells reports this vulnerability affects the following Nova LTE TDD eNodeB devices with firmware through RTS/RTD 3.6.6: 

  • Nova 227 
  • Nova 233 
  • Nova 243 
  • Nova 246 

3.2 VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW

3.2.1 COMMAND INJECTION CWE-77 

Baicells Nova 227, Nova 233, Nova 243 LTE TDD eNodeB devices and Nova 246 with firmware through RTS/RTD 3.6.6 are vulnerable to remote shell code exploitation via HTTP command injections. Commands are executed using pre-login execution and executed with root permissions. 

CVE-2023-24508 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 9.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). 

3.3 BACKGROUND

  • CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Communications 
  • COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide 
  • COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: United States 

3.4 RESEARCHER

Rustam Amin reported this vulnerability to CISA

4. MITIGATIONS

Baicells resolved this vulnerability in firmware version 3.7.11.3 and later. Baicells recommends all users currently running an earlier version of RTS/RTD upgrade their devices to the 3.7.11.6 firmware. Firmware can be downloaded from the Baicells community page or upgraded via OMC. 

Baicells published a security vulnerability notice for this issue 

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

  • Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and/or systems, and ensure they are not accessible from the Internet.
  • Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls and isolate them from business networks.
  • When remote access is required, use secure methods, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), recognizing VPNs may have vulnerabilities and should be updated to the most current version available. Also recognize VPN is only as secure as its connected devices.

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 at cisa.gov/ics. Several CISA products detailing cyber defense best 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 at cisa.gov/ics in the technical information paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B--Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies.

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

No known public exploits specifically target this vulnerability. This vulnerability is exploitable remotely. This vulnerability has a low attack complexity. 

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