CVE-2024-46041 identifies a critical security vulnerability in the IoT Haat Smart Plug IH-IN-16A-S firmware version 5.16.1. The vulnerability is an authentication bypass caused by a capture-replay attack vector. In such an attack, an adversary intercepts legitimate authentication messages between the smart plug and its controlling entity, then replays these messages to gain unauthorized access. This bypass circumvents normal authentication mechanisms, allowing attackers to issue commands to the device without valid credentials. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-294 (Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay), indicating a failure to properly validate the freshness or uniqueness of authentication tokens or messages. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. The attack vector is adjacent network (AV:A), meaning the attacker must have access to the same local or wireless network as the device. No patches or fixes have been published yet, and no exploits are known in the wild, but the potential for abuse is significant given the device’s role in controlling power to connected appliances. This vulnerability could be exploited to disrupt operations, cause physical damage, or facilitate further network intrusion.

The impact of CVE-2024-46041 is substantial for organizations and individuals relying on the Haat Smart Plug IH-IN-16A-S for IoT automation and power management. Unauthorized control of smart plugs can lead to denial of service by turning off critical devices, physical damage by manipulating power supply, or serve as a foothold for lateral movement within a network. In industrial or commercial environments, this could disrupt operations, cause safety hazards, or result in financial losses. Confidentiality is compromised as attackers can infer device usage patterns or presence. Integrity is affected by unauthorized command execution, and availability is threatened by potential device shutdowns or erratic behavior. Since exploitation requires network proximity but no credentials or user interaction, attackers within Wi-Fi range or local networks can easily exploit this flaw. The absence of patches increases exposure time, and the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks against smart home users, enterprises with IoT deployments, or critical infrastructure using these devices.

To mitigate CVE-2024-46041, organizations and users should implement the following specific measures: 1) Isolate IoT devices on segmented networks or VLANs separate from critical business systems to limit attacker access. 2) Employ strong Wi-Fi security protocols (WPA3 preferred) and change default credentials to reduce unauthorized network access. 3) Monitor network traffic for replayed or anomalous commands targeting smart plugs using intrusion detection systems capable of recognizing replay attacks. 4) Disable remote management features if not required to reduce attack surface. 5) Regularly audit connected IoT devices and restrict physical and network access to trusted personnel. 6) Engage with the vendor for firmware updates or patches and apply them promptly once available. 7) Consider deploying network-level protections such as MAC address filtering and device authentication mechanisms that validate message freshness to prevent replay attacks. 8) For critical environments, consider replacing vulnerable devices with alternatives that implement robust authentication and replay protection.