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ABB Cylon Aspect 3.08.03 (login.php) Obscure Authentication Bypass

Critical
Advisory ID
ZSL-2025-5949
Release Date
22 May 2025
Vendor
Affected Version
NEXUS Series, MATRIX-2 Series, ASPECT-Enterprise, ASPECT-Studio, Firmware: <=3.08.03
CVE
N/A
Tested On
GNU/Linux 3.15.10 (armv7l), GNU/Linux 3.10.0 (x86_64), GNU/Linux 2.6.32 (x86_64), Intel(R) Atom(TM) Processor E3930 @ 1.30GHz, Intel(R) Xeon(R) Silver 4208 CPU @ 2.10GHz, PHP/7.3.11, PHP/5.6.30, PHP/5.4.16, PHP/4.4.8, PHP/5.3.3, AspectFT Automation Application Server, lighttpd/1.4.32, lighttpd/1.4.18, Apache/2.2.15 (CentOS), OpenJDK Runtime Environment (rhel-2.6.22.1.-x86_64), OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 24.261-b02, mixed mode), ErgoTech MIX Deployment Server 2.0.0
Summary

ASPECT is an award-winning scalable building energy management and control solution designed to allow users seamless access to their building data through standard building protocols including smart devices.

Description

The ABB Cylon Aspect BAS controller allows login using guest:guest, which initiates a web session but restricts access to administrative features by returning an 'Invalid Admin Username and/or Password' message. However, the session is still active and valid within the HMI environment. Despite failed privilege validation in the login flow, direct navigation to /setup.php bypasses authentication and authorization controls entirely. This endpoint serves as the administrative dashboard and allows full configuration access, including the ability to change credentials for the privileged aamuser account. This flaw results in privilege escalation from a limited guest session to full administrative control, compromising the integrity of the system.

Proof of Concept
Disclosure Timeline
21.04.2024Vulnerability discovered.
22.04.2024Vendor contacted.
22.04.2024Vendor responds.
02.05.2024Working with the vendor.
21.05.2025No response from the vendor.
22.05.2025Public security advisory released.
Credits
Vulnerability discovered by Gjoko Krstic
References
Changelog
22.05.2025Initial release
26.05.2025Added reference [1]