CVE-2008-2005 in InTouch
Summary
by MITRE
The SuiteLink Service (aka slssvc.exe) in WonderWare SuiteLink before 2.0 Patch 01, as used in WonderWare InTouch 8.0, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and service shutdown) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a large length value in a Registration packet to TCP port 5413, which causes a memory allocation failure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2005 affects the SuiteLink Service component within WonderWare SuiteLink software, specifically impacting WonderWare InTouch 8.0 installations. This service operates as a critical communication interface that facilitates data exchange between industrial control systems and various client applications. The SuiteLink Service listens on TCP port 5413 for incoming registration packets, which are essential for establishing proper communication channels within the industrial automation environment. The flaw resides in the service's handling of malformed registration packets containing excessively large length values that trigger abnormal memory allocation behavior.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the SuiteLink Service's packet processing logic. When a Registration packet with an oversized length field is received, the service attempts to allocate memory based on this invalid parameter without proper bounds checking. This creates a NULL pointer dereference condition that ultimately leads to service termination and system instability. The memory allocation failure occurs because the service allocates memory based on the malformed length value, resulting in either insufficient memory allocation or allocation of memory at an invalid address location. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-476, which covers NULL pointer dereference issues. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks targeting industrial control systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially enabling remote code execution capabilities. Attackers can exploit this weakness to remotely compromise industrial control systems by sending specifically crafted Registration packets that cause the service to crash and potentially allow arbitrary code execution. This represents a significant threat to industrial environments where WonderWare InTouch systems control critical infrastructure operations. The vulnerability affects systems that rely on continuous operation of industrial control services, making it particularly dangerous in environments where system uptime is critical for safety and operational continuity. Organizations utilizing WonderWare InTouch 8.0 and SuiteLink services face potential risks of production line shutdowns, operational disruptions, and possible unauthorized access to industrial control systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2005 should prioritize immediate implementation of the vendor-provided patch version 2.0 Patch 01, which addresses the memory allocation and input validation issues within the SuiteLink Service. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to restrict direct access to TCP port 5413 from untrusted networks, utilizing firewalls and network access control lists to limit exposure. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on anomalous packet patterns targeting port 5413 will help identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their industrial control system environments to identify any other instances of SuiteLink Service installations that may be vulnerable to similar attacks. The implementation of intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for known attack patterns targeting industrial control system protocols will provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts.