CVE-2012-0232 in Intelligent Platforms Proficy Real-Time Information Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in rifsrvd.exe in the Remote Interface Service in GE Intelligent Platforms Proficy Real-Time Information Portal 2.6, 3.0, 3.0 SP1, and 3.5 allows remote attackers to modify the configuration via crafted strings.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2017
The CVE-2012-0232 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Remote Interface Service component of GE Intelligent Platforms Proficy Real-Time Information Portal versions 2.6, 3.0, 3.0 SP1, and 3.5. This vulnerability exists in the rifsrvd.exe daemon process that handles remote interface communications, making it a significant concern for industrial control systems and SCADA environments. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied strings that are processed by the service, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to manipulate file system access patterns.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to exploit improper path resolution mechanisms within the service's configuration handling routines. When the rifsrvd.exe process receives crafted input strings, it fails to adequately validate or sanitize the paths before processing them, enabling attackers to traverse directory structures beyond the intended scope. This weakness specifically affects how the service interprets and processes file paths, allowing for arbitrary file manipulation through carefully constructed malicious inputs. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly within industrial environments where the Proficy Real-Time Information Portal serves as a critical component for monitoring and controlling industrial processes. Remote attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can modify configuration files that control system behavior, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive operational data, disruption of industrial processes, or even complete system compromise. The implications are particularly severe in critical infrastructure sectors including energy, water treatment, and manufacturing where such systems control essential operations. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to alter system configurations, inject malicious code, or gain persistent access to the industrial control environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0232 should focus on immediate patch application from GE Intelligent Platforms, as this vulnerability was addressed through official security updates. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate the affected systems from general network access, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Input validation should be strengthened at all levels of the application stack, with proper sanitization of all user-supplied data before processing. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by running the rifsrvd.exe service with minimal required permissions and restricting file system access to only necessary directories. Additionally, monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect suspicious path traversal attempts, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in industrial control system components. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for path traversal and T1566 for spearphishing with a focus on industrial control systems.