Meinberg NTP Time Server Vulnerabilities
Act Now8.1ICS-CERT ICSA-16-175-03Mar 27, 2016
Attack VectorNetwork
Auth RequiredLow
ComplexityLow
User InteractionNone needed
Summary
Meinberg NTP time server products contain a buffer overflow vulnerability (CWE-121) in the management interface that allows authenticated attackers to read sensitive data or modify configuration settings. Affected devices include the entire IMS-LANTIME M-series (M3000, M1000, M500), LANTIME M-series (M900 through M100), SyncFire 1100, and LCES product line running firmware version 6.0 or earlier. The vulnerability requires valid administrative credentials and network access to the device interface.
What this means
What could happen
An attacker with valid login credentials could read sensitive configuration data or modify NTP server settings, potentially disrupting network time synchronization across your facility and affecting any systems that depend on accurate time for logging, auditing, or safety-critical operations.
Who's at risk
Water authorities, power utilities, and other critical infrastructure operators running Meinberg NTP time servers for network time synchronization. These devices are typically deployed in control rooms or central engineering networks to provide accurate time to SCADA systems, protective relays, and event logging systems. Any facility relying on synchronized time for alarm correlation, event sequencing, or compliance auditing should be concerned.
How it could be exploited
An attacker with valid engineering or administrative credentials could access the web management interface or network protocol and send specially crafted requests to trigger a buffer overflow vulnerability. This could allow reading memory contents (configuration, credentials) or altering time server behavior without restarting the device.
Prerequisites
- Valid administrative or engineering credentials for the NTP server
- Network access to the device management interface (typically port 80, 443, or administrative protocol port)
- Knowledge of the affected software version running on the device
No patch available (end of life)High EPSS score (11.2%)Requires valid credentialsAffects infrastructure timing and audit trails
Exploitability
High exploit probability (EPSS 11.2%)
Affected products (11)
11 EOL
ProductAffected VersionsFix Status
IMS-LANTIME M3000: <=6.0≤ 6.0No fix (EOL)
IMS-LANTIME M1000: <=6.0≤ 6.0No fix (EOL)
IMS-LANTIME M500: <=6.0≤ 6.0No fix (EOL)
LANTIME M900: <=6.0≤ 6.0No fix (EOL)
LANTIME M600: <=6.0≤ 6.0No fix (EOL)
LANTIME M300: <=6.0≤ 6.0No fix (EOL)
LANTIME M200: <=6.0≤ 6.0No fix (EOL)
LANTIME M100: <=6.0≤ 6.0No fix (EOL)
Remediation & Mitigation
0/4
Do now
0/1WORKAROUNDRestrict network access to NTP server management interfaces using firewall rules; allow only administrative workstations and monitoring systems to reach ports 80, 443, and any proprietary management ports
Schedule — requires maintenance window
0/2Patching may require device reboot — plan for process interruption
HARDENINGImplement strong access controls and disable any unnecessary administrative accounts on NTP servers
HARDENINGMonitor NTP server activity logs for unauthorized configuration changes or access attempts
Mitigations - no patch available
0/1The following products have reached End of Life with no planned fix: IMS-LANTIME M3000: <=6.0, IMS-LANTIME M1000: <=6.0, IMS-LANTIME M500: <=6.0, LANTIME M900: <=6.0, LANTIME M600: <=6.0, LANTIME M300: <=6.0, LANTIME M200: <=6.0, LANTIME M100: <=6.0, SyncFire 1100: <=6.0, LCES: <=6.0, LANTIME M400: <=6.0. Apply the following compensating controls:
HARDENINGPlace NTP servers on a segmented network with restricted access from operational networks
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