CVE-2011-4034 in Citectscada Reports
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the Steema TeeChart ActiveX control, as used in Schneider Electric Vijeo Historian 4.30 and earlier, CitectHistorian 4.30 and earlier, and CitectSCADAReports 4.10 and earlier, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-4034 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Steema TeeChart ActiveX control component that is embedded in several industrial automation and monitoring systems. This specific weakness affects Schneider Electric Vijeo Historian versions 4.30 and earlier, as well as CitectHistorian and CitectSCADAReports versions 4.30 and 4.10 respectively, creating a significant security risk for industrial control systems that rely on these components for data visualization and reporting functions. The buffer overflow vulnerability arises from improper input validation and memory management within the ActiveX control, which is designed to render charts and graphical representations of industrial data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of input data that flows into the Steema TeeChart ActiveX control, which is typically invoked by the affected industrial software applications. When the control processes malformed or excessively large input data streams, it fails to properly bounds-check memory allocations, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by remote attackers. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through ActiveX components. The vulnerability's remote attack surface is particularly concerning as it allows adversaries to execute arbitrary code on affected systems without requiring local access, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise industrial control environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential system compromise and operational disruption within industrial environments. When successfully exploited, the buffer overflow can result in denial of service conditions that disrupt critical monitoring and reporting functions, or enable full system compromise through arbitrary code execution. This poses significant risks to industrial processes that depend on continuous data visualization and historical trend analysis, as attackers could manipulate or corrupt the graphical data representation, potentially leading to incorrect operational decisions or complete system outages. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of industrial monitoring systems, which are fundamental to maintaining operational continuity in critical infrastructure environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4034 should focus on immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by the vendors, while also implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of affected systems. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable Steema TeeChart ActiveX control within their industrial control systems, and implement application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized ActiveX component execution. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security assessments should be performed to ensure that all industrial control system components remain up to date with the latest security patches. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in industrial software development and the necessity of rigorous input validation mechanisms to prevent buffer overflow conditions in critical system components.