CVE-2010-4732 in Netbiter Serial Ethernet Server Ss100
Summary
by MITRE
cgi-bin/read.cgi in WebSCADA WS100 and WS200, Easy Connect EC150, Modbus RTU - TCP Gateway MB100, and Serial Ethernet Server SS100 on the IntelliCom NetBiter NB100 and NB200 platforms allows remote authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary code by using a config.html 2.conf action to replace the logo page s GIF image file with a file containing this code, a different vulnerability than CVE-2009-4463.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4732 represents a critical code execution flaw affecting multiple industrial networking devices manufactured by IntelliCom, specifically targeting their NetBiter platform ecosystem including WS100, WS200, EC150, MB100, and SS100 devices. This vulnerability exists within the cgi-bin/read.cgi component of these industrial control systems, which are commonly deployed in critical infrastructure environments for remote monitoring and control of industrial processes. The flaw is particularly concerning because it allows authenticated remote attackers with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary code on affected devices, potentially compromising entire industrial control networks.
The technical mechanism of this vulnerability involves a specific configuration action within the web interface that permits administrators to replace the logo page's GIF image file. However, this seemingly benign functionality contains a critical design flaw where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize file uploads, allowing attackers to substitute legitimate image files with malicious code-containing files. The vulnerability specifically leverages the config.html 2.conf action to perform this file replacement, which then gets executed when the modified page is accessed. This represents a classic file inclusion vulnerability where the system treats uploaded files as executable content rather than properly validating their type and content. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-434: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type, which is a well-documented weakness in web application security. The attack vector requires authentication, making it less immediately exploitable than unauthenticated vulnerabilities, but still poses significant risk in environments where administrative credentials might be compromised or where attackers can gain legitimate administrative access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can lead to complete system compromise of industrial control devices that are often deployed in critical infrastructure environments. These devices typically serve as gateways between industrial networks and corporate networks, making them prime targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent access points or move laterally within network environments. The vulnerability affects multiple device types within the IntelliCom NetBiter platform, indicating a systemic issue in the software architecture that could potentially impact numerous installations across various industrial sectors including manufacturing, energy, and utilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell and T1078: Valid Accounts, as it allows for command execution through legitimate administrative accounts and can be used to establish persistent access. The compromise of these industrial devices could result in denial of service, data manipulation, or even physical damage to industrial processes, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in operational technology environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4732 should focus on both immediate patching and operational security improvements. Organizations should prioritize applying vendor patches or firmware updates as soon as they become available to address the underlying file upload validation flaw. Additionally, network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to these industrial devices to only authorized administrative personnel, reducing the attack surface. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that administrative accounts have the minimum necessary permissions and that access is restricted to specific IP addresses or network segments. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file upload activities or access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security configuration reviews should include verification that file upload functionality properly validates file types and content, implementing strict file type whitelisting rather than blacklisting. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability, as well as conducting regular security assessments of industrial control systems to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of their operational technology infrastructure.