Cyber Resilience

CVE-2024-22894

MediumPublic PoC

Published: 30 January 2024

Published
30 January 2024
Modified
21 November 2024
KEV Added
—
Patch
—
CVSS Score v3.1 6.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0331 87.5th percentile
Risk Priority 16 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2024-22894 is a medium-severity Inadequate Encryption Strength (CWE-326) vulnerability in Alpha-Innotec Heat Pumps Firmware. Its CVSS base score is 6.8 (Medium).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow (T1003.008); ranked in the top 12.5% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

An issue fixed in AIT-Deutschland Alpha Innotec Heatpumps V2.88.3 or later, V3.89.0 or later, V4.81.3 or later and Novelan Heatpumps V2.88.3 or later, V3.89.0 or later, V4.81.3 or later, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via the password component…

more

in the shadow file.

CWE(s)
CWE-326

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI

T1003.008 /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow Credential Access
Adversaries may attempt to dump the contents of <code>/etc/passwd</code> and <code>/etc/shadow</code> to enable offline password cracking.
attack.mitre.org →
T1078.003 Local Accounts Stealth
Adversaries may obtain and abuse credentials of a local account as a means of gaining Initial Access, Persistence, Privilege Escalation, or Defense Evasion.
attack.mitre.org →
T1021.004 SSH Lateral Movement
Adversaries may use [Valid Accounts](https://attack.
attack.mitre.org →
Why these techniques?

The vulnerability exposes a weakly encrypted root password in the Linux shadow file (/etc/shadow equivalent), enabling credential dumping (T1003.008), use of valid local root accounts (T1078.003), and remote access via SSH (T1021.004).

Affected Assets

alpha-innotec
heat pumps firmware
≤ 2.88.3 · 3.0.0 — 3.89.0 · 4.0.0 — 4.81.3
novelan
heat pumps firmware
≤ 2.88.3 · 3.0.0 — 3.89.0 · 4.0.0 — 4.81.3

Mitigating Controls

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

PM-15 Security and Privacy Groups and Associations
addresses: CWE-326

Maintaining currency with technologies and practices reduces selection of encryption mechanisms that provide inadequate strength.

RA-4 Risk Assessment Update
addresses: CWE-326

Updated assessments identify when previously adequate encryption strength no longer meets current attack capabilities or compliance drivers.

SC-12 Cryptographic Key Establishment and Management
addresses: CWE-326

Establishment procedures require selection and generation of keys with adequate length and strength for the chosen algorithm.

SC-13 Cryptographic Protection
addresses: CWE-326

Specifies required cryptography types and parameters, preventing selection of inadequate encryption strength.

SI-2 Flaw Remediation
addresses: CWE-326

Prompt patching corrects inadequate encryption strength when vendors release updates that increase key sizes or algorithm security.

References