CVE-2012-0310 in Cogent DataHub
Summary
by MITRE
CRLF injection vulnerability in Cogent DataHub 7.1.2 and earlier, Cascade DataHub 6.4.20 and earlier, and OPC DataHub 6.4.20 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTTP headers and conduct HTTP response splitting attacks via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2017
The CVE-2012-0310 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting and response splitting flaw affecting multiple industrial data acquisition and management platforms including Cogent DataHub, Cascade DataHub, and OPC DataHub versions up to 7.1.2, 6.4.20, and 6.4.20 respectively. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web server components of these industrial automation systems, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate HTTP responses through carefully crafted malicious input. The flaw specifically manifests when the applications fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into HTTP headers or response content, allowing attackers to inject carriage return line feed sequences that can alter the HTTP protocol flow.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTTP headers using CRLF (Carriage Return Line Feed) sequences, which are standard delimiters in HTTP protocol communications. When an application processes user input without proper sanitization, an attacker can inject these sequences to insert additional HTTP headers or manipulate response content. This enables sophisticated attack vectors including HTTP response splitting, where an attacker can inject multiple HTTP responses within a single HTTP transaction, potentially leading to session hijacking, cache poisoning, or cross-site scripting attacks. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-110 as "Improper Neutralization of CRLF Sequences in HTTP Headers" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for "Exploit Public-Facing Application" and T1059 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter" when combined with other exploitation methods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is particularly severe in industrial environments where these data acquisition systems serve as critical infrastructure components. Attackers leveraging this flaw can potentially intercept or manipulate data flows between industrial control systems and external monitoring interfaces, compromising the integrity of operational data and potentially affecting production processes. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require physical access to the systems, making it especially dangerous for industrial networks that may be exposed to external threats. Organizations using these platforms face risks including unauthorized data access, manipulation of operational parameters, and potential disruption of critical industrial processes. The vulnerability affects not just web-based interfaces but also the underlying HTTP server implementations that serve as gateways for various industrial protocols and data exchanges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0310 should focus on immediate patch application from vendors, as this vulnerability was addressed through updates to the affected software versions. Organizations must implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied data before processing, particularly when this data is used in HTTP header construction or response generation. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to limit access to these industrial systems, while monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous HTTP header patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, security awareness training for industrial control system operators and administrators is essential to recognize potential indicators of compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of applying security patches promptly and maintaining robust input validation practices, particularly in industrial environments where system integrity and operational continuity are paramount. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and conducting regular security assessments of their industrial control systems to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities.