Critical Vulnerability Discovered in Linear eMerge E3 Systems
Cybersecurity experts have sounded the alarm regarding a serious, unpatched vulnerability found in Nice’s Linear eMerge E3 access control systems. This flaw potentially allows unauthorized attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands remotely, posing a significant threat to organizations relying on these systems for security.
The vulnerability, designated as CVE-2024-9441, has been assigned an alarming CVSS score of 9.8 out of 10, highlighting its severity. According to VulnCheck, this vulnerability may permit remote unauthenticated attackers to compromise the system, indicating a critical weakness that could be exploited with relative ease.
An advisory from SSD Disclosure released late last month details that the affected Linear eMerge E3 systems have yet to receive a patch or workaround from the vendor. The flaw specifically impacts several versions of the Nortek Linear eMerge E3 Access Control, including software updates ranging from 0.32-03i to 1.00.07. The release of proof-of-concept exploits following public disclosure raises further concerns about the likelihood of malicious actors attempting to exploit this vulnerability.
Organizations should also be cognizant of a related historical context. Another critical vulnerability within the Linear eMerge E3 system, identified as CVE-2019-7256 and scoring a perfect 10.0 on the CVSS scale, was previously exploited by a threat actor known as Flax Typhoon. This incident allowed the recruitment of vulnerable devices into the now-defunct Raptor Train botnet. Though this vulnerability was made public in May 2019, remediation efforts did not come until March of the following year, reflecting a potentially slow response from the vendor that may extend to the current vulnerability as well.
Jacob Baines from VulnCheck has expressed skepticism regarding the promptness of any future fixes. Given the vendor’s history of delayed responses, he advises organizations to take immediate measures either by disconnecting these devices from their networks or implementing isolation strategies.
In line with addressing this vulnerability, Nice has urged its customers to adopt best security practices. These include enforcing network segmentation, limiting access to the system from the internet, and deploying additional protection measures such as firewalls.
As businesses navigate the risks associated with the Linear eMerge E3 systems, understanding the tactics employed by potential adversaries can be instrumental. According to the MITRE ATT&CK Matrix, tactics such as initial access through exploitation of vulnerable software, and command execution techniques may underpin the capabilities exhibited by threat actors targeting the system.
In closing, with the ever-evolving threat landscape, it is critical for organizations using Linear eMerge E3 systems to remain alert and proactive. Implementing robust cybersecurity measures now can help mitigate the potential consequences of this troubling vulnerability.
