External risk intelligence

SQL Injection Authentication Bypass in SOUND4 IMPACT/FIRST/PULSE/Eco

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.3)

CVE-2023-53960

The vulnerability exists within the authentication mechanism of a web-based interface (index.php) used by broadcast and audio processing appliances. These products are commonly deployed as network-accessible management interfaces or edge services for audio streaming control, making them plausibly reachable from the network or internet in typical operational deployments.

SQL Injection

Sound4 First Firmware

2.151.691.161.21.301.112.4.29

Halo Surface Signal: 4 out of 5 — likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

A vulnerability in SOUND4's authentication mechanism allows unauthorized access to systems by manipulating login credentials. This flaw could potentially expose sensitive information or disrupt operations. The main concern is confirming relevance and exposure to affected systems.

Login bypass affects multiple SOUND4 products.
Unauthorized access can disrupt operations.
Confirming exposure is the leadership takeaway.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker could target the authentication mechanism of vulnerable SOUND4 devices by sending specially crafted requests over the network. By manipulating the 'password' field in login attempts, an attacker could inject malicious SQL code. This injection bypasses the standard login process, potentially granting the attacker unauthorized access and control over the device.

No authentication required to access.
SQL injection via password parameter.
Unauthorized access and system control.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability could allow an unauthenticated attacker to manipulate login credentials via a SQL injection in the authentication mechanism of SOUND4 IMPACT/FIRST/PULSE/Eco systems. This manipulation could lead to unauthorized access to the system's functionalities when the affected products are exposed to a network.

System authentication data.
Login credentials can be manipulated.
Unauthorized system access.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

Teams responsible for managing the SOUND4 FIRST/IMPACT/PULSE/Eco devices, likely the infrastructure or platform team overseeing audio processing and broadcast equipment, should lead the response. The first step is to locate all instances of the affected technology within your environment, assess their network exposure and business criticality, and identify the specific owner for each instance to plan remediation.

Ownership: Infrastructure or platform teams.
Verify first: Device network exposure and criticality.
Action: Plan risk-based remediation.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the SOUND4 software affected by CVE-2023-53960?

SOUND4 products, including IMPACT, FIRST, PULSE, and Eco series, are broadcast and audio processing appliances. These systems are used to manage audio streaming and sound processing tasks, typically via web-based management interfaces. The vulnerability affects these units and their related firmware versions.

What is an SQL injection vulnerability in the context of this CVE?

This vulnerability, classified as CWE-89, occurs when software fails to properly sanitize input. In this case, the authentication mechanism on the 'index.php' page accepts malicious SQL code through the password field. This allows an attacker to manipulate backend database queries to trick the system into granting unauthorized access.

How does an attacker trigger this authentication bypass?

An attacker triggers the flaw by sending a specially crafted HTTP POST request to the device's login interface. By injecting malicious SQL commands into the 'password' parameter, they can circumvent the normal login process. The vulnerability does not require a valid user account or prior authentication to initiate the exploit attempt.

Why should I worry about the network reachability of these devices?

Halo Surface Signal indicates this vulnerability is likely reachable from the network or internet because these appliances are often deployed as edge services or network-accessible management interfaces. If your SOUND4 device is exposed to the broader network, unauthorized parties may be able to reach the vulnerable login page remotely.

What are the first steps to manage this risk?

You should begin by locating all SOUND4 devices within your infrastructure to identify which versions are in use. Assess their network connectivity to determine if they are reachable from untrusted segments. Once mapped, coordinate with the teams responsible for these audio systems to prioritize remediation based on their business criticality and exposure.

References

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.