CVE-2022-43442 is a vulnerability identified in FUJI SOFT INCORPORATED's +F FS040U software, specifically affecting versions v2.3.4 and earlier. The core issue is the plaintext storage of a password within the software, which violates secure credential management best practices. This vulnerability allows an attacker with access to the system or software environment to retrieve the stored password in an unencrypted form. With this password, the attacker can log in to the management console of the +F FS040U software, potentially gaining unauthorized administrative access. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-522, which pertains to the storage of passwords in plaintext or in a recoverable format. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.6, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N) reveals that the attack vector is physical (AV:P), requiring local access to the device or system where the software is installed. The attack complexity is low (AC:L), no privileges are required (PR:N), and no user interaction is needed (UI:N). The scope remains unchanged (S:U). The impact is high on confidentiality (C:H) but none on integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). There are no known exploits in the wild, and no patches have been linked or published at the time of this analysis. The vulnerability was reserved on 2022-10-22 and published on 2022-12-05. The affected product, +F FS040U software, is used to manage specific FUJI SOFT hardware or systems, likely in specialized industrial or enterprise environments. The plaintext password storage flaw could allow attackers who gain physical or local access to extract credentials and compromise the management console, potentially leading to unauthorized configuration changes or data exposure within the managed system environment.

For European organizations using the +F FS040U software, this vulnerability poses a significant confidentiality risk. An attacker with local or physical access can extract passwords and gain management console access, potentially leading to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive configuration data or operational information. While the vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability, the unauthorized access could be leveraged to perform further malicious activities depending on the management console's capabilities. Organizations in sectors with stringent data protection requirements, such as finance, healthcare, or critical infrastructure, could face compliance risks if sensitive information is exposed. The requirement for physical or local access limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk in environments where insider threats or unauthorized physical access are possible. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate threat levels but does not preclude targeted attacks. The absence of patches increases the urgency for mitigation, especially in environments where the +F FS040U software is deployed in sensitive or critical roles.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting physical and local access to devices running +F FS040U software to trusted personnel only. 2. Implement strict access control policies and monitor physical access logs to detect unauthorized presence. 3. Where possible, upgrade the +F FS040U software to a version later than v2.3.4 once a patch is released by FUJI SOFT INCORPORATED; in the absence of an official patch, contact the vendor for guidance or temporary workarounds. 4. Change all passwords stored or used by the +F FS040U software after remediation to prevent reuse of compromised credentials. 5. Employ additional layers of authentication or network segmentation to isolate management consoles from general network access, reducing the risk of lateral movement if credentials are compromised. 6. Conduct regular audits of the management console access logs to identify suspicious login attempts or unauthorized access. 7. Educate staff about the risks of local access vulnerabilities and enforce policies against unauthorized device access. 8. If feasible, encrypt the storage location of passwords or credentials manually or via third-party tools until an official fix is available. 9. Maintain an incident response plan that includes steps to take if unauthorized access is detected, including forensic analysis and credential revocation.