CVE-2012-1810 in EOScada
Summary
by MITRE
EOSCoreScada.exe in C3-ilex EOScada before 11.0.19.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon restart) by sending data to TCP port (1) 5050 or (2) 24004.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1810 affects the C3-ilex EOScada system, specifically the EOSCoreScada.exe component, which is a critical element in industrial control systems and SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) environments. This flaw represents a significant security weakness in operational technology infrastructure that serves critical manufacturing and infrastructure sectors. The affected version range indicates that systems running EOScada versions prior to 11.0.19.2 remain exposed to this vulnerability, making it a persistent concern for organizations relying on legacy industrial control systems. The vulnerability impacts the core daemon process that manages system operations, fundamentally compromising the reliability and availability of industrial processes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the EOSCoreScada.exe daemon process. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted data packets to two specific TCP ports: 5050 and 24004. These ports are typically used for communication protocols within the SCADA system, making them legitimate entry points for system interaction. The flaw occurs when the daemon process fails to properly validate incoming data, allowing malformed or malicious input to trigger an unexpected system behavior that results in the daemon restarting automatically. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of input boundaries, and represents a classic example of buffer overflow or input handling flaws that can lead to service disruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system restarts, as it can cause significant disruptions to industrial processes that depend on continuous operation. When the daemon restarts, it can interrupt communication between control systems and field devices, potentially leading to process failures, data loss, or unsafe operating conditions. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication, making it an easy target for remote exploitation. This vulnerability directly affects the availability aspect of the CIA triad and can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1499.1, which involves network denial of service attacks. Organizations using affected systems face the risk of operational disruption, particularly in critical infrastructure sectors such as power generation, water treatment, and manufacturing facilities where continuous operation is essential.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to version 11.0.19.2 or later, as this represents the most direct solution to address the underlying flaw. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the vulnerable TCP ports 5050 and 24004, limiting exposure to authorized personnel only. Additionally, organizations should implement network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in industrial control systems, reinforcing the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the development lifecycle. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically tuned to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting industrial protocols, as this vulnerability represents a common attack pattern in industrial cyber warfare scenarios.