Hikvision VMS Password Recovery Vulnerability - Emailing Admin Passwords In Plain Text

By: Michael Budalich, Published on Aug 28, 2017

Hikvision iVMS-4200 suffers from a vulnerability that allows anyone local, without authentication, to generate a code that Hikvision will respond by emailing the admin password in plain text.

This is different than the Hikvision recorder cracked security codes. Because it is for the iVMS-4200, exploiting this vulnerability would provide access to all devices connected to the iVMS-4200 including Hikvision cameras and recorders, as well as any 3rd party cameras connected through those recorders.

In this report we detail the vulnerability, explaining how it can be exploited and the security problems therein.

********* ****-**** ******* **** a ************* **** ****** anyone *****, ******* **************, to ******** * **** that ********* **** ******* by ******** *** ***** password ** ***** ****.

**** ** ********* **** the********* ******** ******* ******** codes. ******* ** ** for *** ****-****, ********** this ************* ***** ******* access ** *** ******* connected ** *** ****-**** including ********* ******* *** recorders, ** **** ** any *** ***** ******* connected ******* ***** *********.

** **** ****** ** detail *** *************, ********** how ** *** ** exploited *** *** ******** problems *******.

[***************]

iVMS-4200 ******** *************

*** ****-**** ****** ******** a "****** ********" ******:

******** "****** ********" ******* an "********* ******",***** *** ** ******* to ********* ******* *** password ********:

****** ** **** ** 'contact **** ******', ********* support ******* ***** ********* to ** ******* *** attempt ** ************** ** verification.

***** * ***** ****** (~30 ******* ** *** example), ********* ******* ****** the ****-**** ******'* ***** password ** ***** ****:

Multiple ******** *****

***** *** * *** security *****:

  • ** ************** *** ************
  • *** ****'* ******** ** emailed **** ** ***** text
  • ** ***** ** ******
  • ******* *********
  • *********** ********* *** ** cracked

No ************** *** ************

****** *** *** **** up ** * ******** with ****-**** ******** *** get *** ***** ******** directly. ***** ** ** email, ***** ****** ** any ***** ******* ** verify ** ************ *** requester ** **********. **** is ****** *** ****** universally ******* *******.

Plain **** ********

******** *** ******** ** plain **** ** ******* violation ** ***** ******** practices, **** ***** ***** that ******** **** *** change ** **** ***. Anyone *** *** ****** to **** *****, ****** on *** ******** ** sender's **** *** *** the ***** ******** *** the ******.

No ***** ** ******

**** ******** ******** ******* from ********* ******* **** more **** **** ******** password ******, ** ** provides *** ****** ***** password ** ** ************ person. **** ******** ***** functions, *** ***** ******** gets ***** ** * new *****, ******** ******** legitimate ***** **** ********* may ** ***** **** their ******** ***** *******.

Reusing *********

***** ******* ********* ****** devices ** *** ********, it ** ******. ** the ****** *** ***** the ****-**** *********** **** the **** ***** ******** on ***** ******* ** applications, *** ******** *** has *** ***** ******** to * ******* ** devices. **** ** *** iVMS-4200 ***** ******** ** unique, ********* *** ********* password *** ******* ***** into *** *** **** chooses *********, ****** ** easier ** **** ************ access ** ***** *******.

Recoverable ********* *** ** *******

*********'* '********* ******' *** the ******** *** ** cracked. ** *********** ******** analyst *** **** ** determine *** ********* ******* about *** ******* ****** a *** *****:

*** ***** ******** ** encrypted **** *** ** ECB ****, *** ** then ****** *******, ******* adding "***" *** "***". This ** *********** *** the **** ** ******* and ******** **** ******* passphrases. *** ** *** mode ** *********** ** a ********* ******** ******, allowing ** ******** ** determine *** *********, ******, and ******* ****** *** ciphertext. ** * ******, the ******** ***** ** able ** ********* *** key/password **** *** ********** and ***** **** ******* the **** *********.

** *********'* ******** ********** scheme **** *******, ********* could ** ******** ******* the **** ** ******* Hikvision *******, ****** ** even ****** *** ****** for ****-**** ******* ** be ***********.

Risk ** ********** ** ******** ********* *************

*** ***** ***** ******** users ***** *** **** PC/iVMS-4200 ************, ** ** effectively ********** ** ******** secure *** ******** **** lower-level ***** ********* *** admin ******** "********* ******" and ******* ** ** Hikvision ******* ** ******** the ***** ********.

********* *** ****** ********** user ********, ****** ** enterprises *** ****** *************, therefore ***** ********** ** risk ** ********* ********** admin ********* ******* **** vulnerability.

Hikvision

**** ***** ********* ** passwords *** ***** *********/******** were ****** ** * similar ****** ***** ********* passwords *** ***********, *** there ** * *** for ***** ** ******* the ******** ******** ** iVMS-4200. ********* *** *********** receipt ** *** *********, but *** *** ***** a ********, ** ************ when * ******** ***** be ********.

******

***** ********* *** *** respond ** *** ***** (sent ****** ****), **** released * "******* ********" and ******* ******* ** iVMS-4200 ***** (****** ****):

Mitigating ******** ******** ****

******* ********* ***** ** so **** *** ** unauthorized **** ** ******** an ****-**** ***** ********, users ** *** *********** need ** ******* ******* unauthorized ****** ** *** application. ****** ****** **** a **** ***** ******** and ******** ****** *********** should ** **** ** prevent ************ ***** **** launching *** *** *** retrieving *** ******** ***** code.

Hikvsion **** ******** ********

*************** ****** ** "********** the ********** ** *********** security", ***** ******* *********** prove *********. *************** **** been ***** ***********'* ****** ***,***** ********,*******/*********, *** *** ** application. ***** ********** *************** show **** *** ******* does *** ***** *********** security/cyber ******** ** * top ********, ****** * responsive ******* ** ********* approach ** ******** *********** security. ** ** ****** likely **** ***** ******* lines, **** ** ****** control ** *********, **** similar *************** **** *** customers ** ****. ***** of ********* ******** ** software ****** ******** ***** products **********, *** *** appropriate ******* ** ******* against ******** *** ******** exploit *************.

Comments (11)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

08/28/17 05:22pm

(****** ********* ******* ******** security *** ***** ****)

Avatar

Brian Karas

IPVM | 08/28/17 05:35pm

***** ********* *** *** respond ** *** ***** (sent ****** ****), **** released * "******* ********" and ******* ******* ** iVMS-4200 ***** (****** ****):

****-**** ******* ******** ********

Avatar

Brian Karas

IPVM | 08/28/17 07:11pm

** ******** ** ******** the "****** ********" ********, Hikvision *** ******* ******* password ******** ********. * request ********* ***** **** report *** ******** ******** the ********* ******** **** Hikvision:

*** ******** *** *** make ** ***** **** the ********/******* *** *******, nor *** **** ********* downloading *** ****** ******* with *** "******** ******** structure".

Marty Calhoun

IPVMU Certified | 09/03/17 05:40pm

**** *****

********** ***** ********* ***** not ** ***** *** iVMS4200 ********, ** ** more ********* ** *** Hik-Central.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Marty Calhoun | 09/03/17 05:48pm

...** ** **** ********* to *** ***-*******.

** **** **** * VMS?

Marty Calhoun

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 09/04/17 12:00am

** ** * *** solution. *********** ********** ****** not ** ** ******** with * *** ** iVMS-4200.

** ***** ***** ***** on **, ***** *** Chinese **********, ***** *** cyber-security ******** **** *** last (**) ***** ** Hik, ***** *** ******* sink ** **, ***** up ********** **** *** been ******** *** *** forbid * ***-******** ********** of *** ******** *** its ********* ******* *** 'Headline ** *** ****' approach.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Marty Calhoun | 09/03/17 11:54pm

*****,

***-******* *** **** ******** in *** **** *** months ***** ***** **** few *********, ********** ** otherwise *** ***** ***-*******.

***, **** ******** ************* testing *** ***-******* **** put *******?

Undisclosed #2

In reply to John Honovich | 09/04/17 12:14am

********** ***** ********* ***** not ** ***** *** iVMS4200 ********, ** ** more ********* ** *** Hik-Central. - *.*.

... **** *** *********, enterprise ** ********* *** using ***-*******. - *.*.

**** ** ***** ****** be ****, ****** ********* has **** *** ********** customers.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 09/04/17 12:28am

***** ** ******** **** enterprise ***** ***************** ***** ***-*******.

******* **** ****** *** Hik-Central ** ***, ** just ******* ******* ************ less **** * ****** ago:

** *** ******* **, regardless ** **** ***** customers ****** ** *****, overwhelming *********, ********** ** not, *** ***** ****-**** since ***-******* ** ***** new.

** ******, ******* ***-******* is ****** * *********** to *** **** **** Hikvision's **** ************* ****** allowed ******** ***** ********* in ***** ****.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to John Honovich | 09/04/17 12:39am

***** ** ******** **** enterprise ***** ***************** ***** ***-*******.

*** ** *** ***** only******** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Marty Calhoun | 09/03/17 11:59pm

**** *****

*** ***** ** ** a '**** *****' ** send ***** ********* ** plain **** ** ******?

*****, *** *** ******* to *** **** *** want *** ***** **** of ********* ********** **** Hikvision *** ***** ******* are *** ******* ***** cyber ******** *** ****** in ******** *******.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports on VMS

Axis ~$150 Outdoor Camera Tested on May 21, 2019
Axis has released the latest in their Companion camera line, the outdoor Companion Dome Mini LE, a 1080p integrated IR model aiming to compete with...
Panasonic 32MP Multi Imager Camera Tested (WV-X8570N) on May 16, 2019
Panasonic has released their first multi imager models including the 32MP (4x4K) WV-X8570N, claiming "Extreme image quality for evidence capturing...
Bank Security Manager Interview on May 15, 2019
Bank security contends with many significant threats - from fraudsters to robbers and more. In this interview, IPVM spoke with bank security...
Milestone XProtect 2019 R1 Tested on May 15, 2019
For the past few years, Milestone has released quarterly software updates XProtect VMS platform. What is new and how much impact do the updates...
Bluecherry Open Sources Entire VMS on May 13, 2019
Bluecherry announced they have "released the entire Bluecherry software application open source with a GPL license". We spoke to Bluecherry's...
Mining Company Security Manager Interview on May 10, 2019
First Quantum Minerals Limited (FQML) is a global enterprise with offices on 4 continents and operations in 7 countries with exploratory operations...
Aegis AI Gun Detection Video Analytics Startup on May 07, 2019
Gun detection analytic startups are increasing as the promise of AI and the threats of active shooters grow.  One company, Aegis AI, is being led...
Restaurant Security Manager Interview on May 06, 2019
Wright’s Gourmet House in Tampa, Florida has been around for over 50 years. During most of that time, there were no security measures in place. Now...
Ranking Manufacturer Favorability 2019 on May 06, 2019
24 manufacturer's favorability was ranked based on 170+ integrators feedback. Voting plus in-depth comments revealed insights on which brands were...
Verkada Cloud VMS/Cameras Tested on May 02, 2019
Verkada is arguably the most ambitious video surveillance startup in many years. The company is developing their own cameras, their own VMS, their...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Access Control Job Walk Guide on May 22, 2019
Significant money can be saved and problems avoided with an access control job walk if you know what to look for and what to ask. By inviting...
ASCMA / Monitronics Declares Chapter 11 Bankruptcy on May 22, 2019
Monitronics is entering into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company, also called Ascent Capital Group Inc., aka ASCMA, aka Brinks Home Security,...
US Considers Sanctions Against Hikvision and Dahua on May 22, 2019
The US government is considering blacklisting "up to 5" PRC surveillance firms, including Hikvision and Dahua, Bloomberg reported, with human...
Dahua USA Celebrates 5 Years of Errors on May 21, 2019
Dahua USA is, in their own words, 'celebrating' 5 years in North America or as trade magazine SSN declared: Dahua Technology finds success in...
Axis ~$150 Outdoor Camera Tested on May 21, 2019
Axis has released the latest in their Companion camera line, the outdoor Companion Dome Mini LE, a 1080p integrated IR model aiming to compete with...
Covert Facial Recognition Using Axis and Amazon By NYTimes on May 20, 2019
What if you took a 33MP Axis camera covering one of the busiest parks in the US and ran Amazon Facial Recognition against it? That is what the...
Amazon Ring Public Subsidy Program Aims To Dominate Residential Security on May 20, 2019
Amazon dominates market after market. Quitely, but increasingly, they are doing so in residential security, through a combination of significant...
LifeSafety Power NetLink Vulnerabilities And Problematic Response on May 20, 2019
'Power supplies' are not devices that many think about when considering vulnerabilities but as more and more devices go 'online', the risks for...
Facial Recognition Systems Fail Simple Liveness Detection Test on May 17, 2019
Facial recognition is being widely promoted as a solution to physical access control but we were able to simply spoof 3 systems because they had no...
Inside Look Into Scam Market Research on May 17, 2019
Scam market research has exploded over the last few years becoming the most commonly cited 'statistics' for most industries, despite there clearly...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact