CVE-2012-0221 in FactoryTalk
Summary
by MITRE
The FactoryTalk (FT) RNADiagReceiver service in Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley FactoryTalk CPR9 through SR5 and RSLogix 5000 17 through 20 does not properly handle the return value from an unspecified function, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (service outage) via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2024
The FactoryTalk RNADiagReceiver service within Rockwell Automation's Allen-Bradley FactoryTalk CPR9 through SR5 and RSLogix 5000 17 through 20 systems presents a critical vulnerability that stems from improper handling of function return values during network communication processing. This vulnerability manifests as a denial of service condition that can be exploited remotely, potentially disrupting industrial control system operations and compromising operational continuity in manufacturing environments. The flaw exists within the diagnostic receiver service component that handles incoming network packets for system diagnostics and monitoring purposes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a function call within the RNADiagReceiver service that fails to properly validate or handle the return value from an unspecified internal function. When a malicious actor crafts and transmits a specially designed packet to the affected service, the system's failure to properly process the function return value results in service instability and eventual termination. This represents a classic buffer overflow or improper error handling scenario where the service does not adequately check the success or failure of function calls before proceeding with subsequent operations. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-248 category of "Uncaught Exception" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise industrial control system integrity and availability. In manufacturing environments where continuous operation is critical, a denial of service attack against the RNADiagReceiver service could result in production halts, quality control failures, and increased maintenance costs. The remote exploitability of this vulnerability means that attackers need not have physical access to the systems, making it particularly dangerous in network-connected industrial environments. The affected versions represent a broad range of Rockwell Automation products, indicating the widespread potential impact across multiple industrial control applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of vendor-provided patches and updates to the FactoryTalk CPR and RSLogix 5000 software versions. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the affected services to untrusted networks. Monitoring systems should be configured to detect anomalous packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also implement network intrusion detection systems capable of identifying malformed packets targeting the specific service ports used by RNADiagReceiver. Additionally, regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to identify similar improper error handling conditions within industrial control system components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper error handling in industrial systems where network connectivity increases attack surface and potential impact of security flaws.