CVE-2007-4827 in Modbus Slave ActiveX Control
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Modbus/TCP Diagnostic function in MiniHMI.exe for the Automated Solutions Modbus Slave ActiveX Control before 1.5 allows remote attackers to corrupt the heap and possibly execute arbitrary code via malformed Modbus requests to TCP port 502.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4827 represents a critical heap corruption issue within the Modbus/TCP Diagnostic function of MiniHMI.exe, which is part of the Automated Solutions Modbus Slave ActiveX Control. This flaw exists in versions prior to 1.5 and specifically affects systems utilizing the ActiveX control for industrial automation and control systems. The vulnerability manifests through malformed Modbus requests transmitted to TCP port 502, which serves as the standard port for Modbus TCP communication in industrial environments. The affected component operates within the context of the ActiveX control, which is commonly deployed in Windows-based industrial control systems where remote access to industrial processes is required.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the Modbus/TCP Diagnostic function implementation. When malformed Modbus requests are received on TCP port 502, the MiniHMI.exe process fails to properly validate the structure and content of these requests before processing them. This lack of proper validation creates opportunities for heap corruption through buffer overflows or other memory manipulation techniques. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, though the heap corruption aspect suggests more complex memory management issues. The diagnostic function within the ActiveX control appears to lack proper bounds checking and memory allocation validation, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that can overwrite critical memory structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly within industrial control system environments where Modbus TCP is commonly deployed. Systems utilizing the Automated Solutions Modbus Slave ActiveX Control are at risk of arbitrary code execution, which could lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized control of industrial processes. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the target systems, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in operational technology environments. The heap corruption can potentially lead to denial of service conditions, data corruption, or more severe consequences such as unauthorized access to critical infrastructure components. Organizations using these systems face potential risks including production disruption, safety hazards, and compliance violations in regulated industries such as manufacturing, energy, and utilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-4827 should prioritize immediate patching of the Automated Solutions Modbus Slave ActiveX Control to version 1.5 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to TCP port 502, particularly from untrusted networks, following the principle of least privilege. Regular security assessments of industrial control systems should include vulnerability scanning for outdated ActiveX controls and other legacy components. The implementation of network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous Modbus traffic patterns may help identify potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for Modbus protocol anomalies and ensure that all industrial systems undergo regular security updates and vulnerability assessments. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the need for comprehensive security controls across both network and endpoint layers.