CVE-2019-7225 : What You Need to Know

This CVE-2019-7225 article provides insights into a vulnerability in ABB HMI components that expose hidden administrative accounts, potentially leading to unauthorized access and manipulation of HMI configuration files.

Understanding CVE-2019-7225

What is CVE-2019-7225?

The ABB HMI components contain hidden administrative accounts with hardcoded credentials that can be exploited during the provisioning phase, allowing unauthorized access to the HMI interface.

The Impact of CVE-2019-7225

The presence of hardcoded credentials in ABB HMI components poses a significant security risk, enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access, manipulate configuration files, retrieve sensitive information, and potentially reset the device.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-7225

Vulnerability Description

During the provisioning phase of the HMI interface, ABB HMI components utilize hidden administrative accounts with hardcoded credentials, such as the IdalMaster and exor accounts, which cannot be disabled or modified.

Affected Systems and Versions

ABB CP635 HMI
CP600 HMIClient
Panel Builder 600
IDAL FTP server
IDAL HTTP server

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting the undocumented credentials allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to the ABB HMI, providing the ability to manipulate HMI configuration files, retrieve information, and potentially reset the device.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Change default passwords for administrative accounts
Implement network segmentation to restrict access
Monitor and log HMI access for suspicious activities

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update firmware and software patches
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing
Educate users on secure password practices

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by ABB to address the hardcoded credentials vulnerability in the affected HMI components.