CVE-2011-3499 in Movicon Powerhmi
Summary
by MITRE
Progea Movicon / PowerHMI 11.2.1085 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via an EIDP packet with a large size field, which writes a zero byte to an arbitrary memory location.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3499 affects Progea Movicon and PowerHMI versions 11.2.1085 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in industrial automation software systems. This vulnerability resides in the EIDP (Extended Industrial Data Protocol) implementation within these industrial control systems, which are widely deployed in manufacturing and industrial environments for process control and monitoring. The affected software serves as a crucial component in industrial automation networks, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for operational technology infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests through improper input validation within the EIDP packet processing mechanism. When a maliciously crafted EIDP packet containing an oversized size field is transmitted to the vulnerable system, the software fails to properly validate the packet dimensions before processing. This validation failure leads to a buffer overflow condition where the system attempts to write a zero byte to an arbitrary memory location. The vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking and memory management practices in the protocol handler, creating a predictable memory corruption scenario that can be exploited remotely.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, presenting potential for arbitrary code execution within the targeted system. Attackers can leverage this flaw to cause system crashes, leading to operational disruptions in industrial processes, while the memory corruption aspect opens possibilities for privilege escalation and persistent access to the industrial control environment. This represents a significant risk to industrial cybersecurity, particularly in critical infrastructure sectors where system uptime and integrity are paramount for safety and operational continuity.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.002 for network denial of service. Organizations utilizing these industrial control systems face potential operational technology compromise, with attackers able to disrupt critical manufacturing processes while potentially establishing persistent footholds within industrial networks. The remote exploitability of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access to the industrial environment, making it particularly dangerous for connected industrial systems. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected systems, network segmentation to isolate industrial control environments, and implementation of network monitoring to detect anomalous EIDP traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.
The broader implications for industrial cybersecurity highlight the need for robust input validation in operational technology systems, particularly those handling industrial protocols. This vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly simple protocol implementation flaws can result in critical system compromise, emphasizing the importance of security testing and code review in industrial automation software development. Organizations must prioritize secure coding practices and regular vulnerability assessments to protect their industrial control systems from similar threats that could potentially impact safety-critical operations.