CVE-2011-5089 in GENESIS32
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the Security Login ActiveX controls in ICONICS GENESIS32 8.05, 9.0, 9.1, and 9.2 and BizViz 8.05, 9.0, 9.1, and 9.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a long password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-5089 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Security Login ActiveX controls of ICONICS GENESIS32 and BizViz software versions 8.05 through 9.2. This vulnerability resides in the authentication mechanism of industrial automation software that is widely deployed in critical infrastructure environments including manufacturing plants, power generation facilities, and water treatment systems. The affected ActiveX controls are designed to handle user authentication and security management within these industrial control systems, making them prime targets for attackers seeking to compromise operational technology environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the password handling functionality of the ActiveX controls. When a user attempts to log in with an excessively long password string, the software fails to properly bounds-check the input before copying it into a fixed-size buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition occurs because the application does not validate the length of the password input against the allocated buffer space, allowing maliciously crafted input to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability manifests as a stack-based buffer overflow, where the excessive input overflows into adjacent stack variables and potentially corrupts the return address of the calling function, providing attackers with the opportunity to redirect program execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, presenting significant risks to industrial control system integrity and availability. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to cause application crashes that result in service interruptions, potentially leading to production downtime and operational disruptions in critical infrastructure environments. More concerning is the potential for arbitrary code execution, which could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to the industrial control systems, modify operational parameters, or even take control of critical processes. The vulnerability affects both GENESIS32 and BizViz platforms, which are commonly used in SCADA and industrial automation environments where system reliability and security are paramount. This flaw directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1210 for exploitation of remote services and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access within industrial networks, potentially moving laterally to other systems within the operational technology environment. The impact is particularly severe in environments where these applications are used for process control and monitoring, as the vulnerability could enable attackers to manipulate critical industrial processes, potentially leading to safety hazards, environmental damage, or significant financial losses. Organizations using ICONICS software in industrial settings must consider the potential for cascading failures when addressing this vulnerability, as the compromise of one system could affect entire operational networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-5089 should include immediate patching of affected software versions, implementation of network segmentation to limit access to vulnerable ActiveX controls, and deployment of input validation controls at network boundaries. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specific to industrial control system vulnerabilities. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure software development practices in industrial environments and highlights the need for regular security assessments of operational technology systems. Given the critical nature of industrial control systems, organizations should consider the broader security implications of this vulnerability and implement comprehensive security measures beyond simple patch management to protect against similar threats in their operational technology environments.