CVE-2007-6033 in InTouch
Summary
by MITRE
Invensys Wonderware InTouch 8.0 creates a NetDDE share with insecure permissions (Everyone/Full Control), which allows remote authenticated attackers, and possibly anonymous users, to execute arbitrary programs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6033 affects Invensys Wonderware InTouch 8.0 industrial automation software, representing a critical security flaw in the configuration of network shares. This issue stems from the software's default behavior of creating a NetDDE share with overly permissive access controls that grant full control permissions to the Everyone group. The vulnerability exists within the software's network communication infrastructure and represents a significant weakness in the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to secure system design. The flaw allows for unauthorized code execution through network-based attacks, making it particularly dangerous in industrial control environments where system integrity and security are paramount.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the creation of a network share using the NetDDE protocol, which is commonly used for data exchange between industrial automation systems and client applications. When the InTouch 8.0 software initializes, it automatically establishes this share without proper access control enforcement, leaving it accessible to any user who can connect to the network. The insecure permissions configuration directly violates security best practices and creates an attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to the system. This flaw is categorized under CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access control issues, specifically focusing on inadequate access control mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear failure in the software's security hardening process and represents a classic example of insecure default configurations that attackers can readily exploit.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass full system compromise and potential operational disruption in industrial environments. Remote authenticated attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially leading to complete system takeover, data manipulation, or denial of service conditions. The possibility of anonymous exploitation adds another layer of risk, as it allows attackers to compromise systems without requiring valid credentials, making the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors targeting industrial control systems. In the context of industrial environments, this vulnerability could enable attackers to manipulate critical processes, alter production data, or disrupt operations, which could have serious safety and financial implications. The attack pattern aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059 category for command and script interpreter, as attackers can execute arbitrary commands through the compromised share.
The security implications of CVE-2007-6033 are particularly severe in environments where industrial control systems are connected to corporate networks or the internet. The vulnerability represents a failure in the security-by-design approach that should be implemented in industrial automation systems, where security considerations must be integrated from the initial development phases rather than addressed as afterthoughts. Organizations using Wonderware InTouch 8.0 should immediately implement network segmentation to isolate these systems from general network access, disable unnecessary network shares, and apply the latest security patches from the vendor. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and proper configuration management in industrial environments, as insecure default settings can provide attackers with easy entry points to critical infrastructure. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability scans to identify all instances of this software and ensure proper access controls are implemented to prevent unauthorized code execution through network shares.