CVE-2021-42539 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2021-42539 affecting Emerson WirelessHART Gateway. Find out the impact, affected systems, and mitigation steps to address this high-severity vulnerability.
Emerson WirelessHART Gateway is vulnerable to missing permission validation, potentially leading to account takeovers and unauthorized settings changes.
Understanding CVE-2021-42539
What is CVE-2021-42539?
The CVE-2021-42539 vulnerability in the Emerson WirelessHART Gateway allows attackers to exploit missing permission validation during system backup restore, enabling account takeover and unauthorized changes.
The Impact of CVE-2021-42539
The vulnerability has a HIGH severity rating with LOW attack complexity. It can result in compromised confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-42539
Vulnerability Description
- Missing permission validation on system backup restore
- Risk of account takeovers and unauthorized settings changes
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: WirelessHART Gateway by Emerson
- Versions affected: 1410, 1410D, and 1420 (<= 4.7.94)
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attack Complexity: Low
- Attack Vector: Network
- Privileges Required: Low
- User Interaction: Required
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade to version 4.7.105 provided by Emerson
- Follow instructions on the Emerson Gate Firmware site
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update firmware and security patches
- Monitor system activity for unusual behavior
Patching and Updates
- Emerson recommends upgrading to v4.7.105 to address the vulnerability
- Ensure affected users have Guardian accounts for firmware download