CVE-2012-1811 in EOScada
Summary
by MITRE
EOSDataServer.exe in C3-ilex EOScada before 11.0.19.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service by sending a large amount of data to TCP port 24006.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1811 affects the EOSDataServer.exe component within C3-ilex EOScada software versions prior to 11.0.19.2. This represents a critical denial of service weakness that specifically targets the industrial control systems environment where EOScada is commonly deployed for monitoring and control applications. The affected system operates on TCP port 24006 which serves as the primary communication channel for data exchange within the industrial automation framework. This vulnerability exposes the system to remote exploitation where malicious actors can disrupt normal operations by overwhelming the server with excessive data payloads.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper input validation and data handling mechanisms within the EOSDataServer.exe process. When the server receives large volumes of data on port 24006, it fails to implement adequate buffer management or data flow control measures. This absence of defensive programming practices creates a condition where the server process becomes overwhelmed by the volume of incoming data, leading to system instability and eventual service disruption. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack and does not require authentication or specialized privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in operational technology environments where systems may be exposed to untrusted networks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially compromise industrial control processes that rely on continuous data flow. In industrial settings where EOScada systems manage critical infrastructure operations, such as water treatment plants, power generation facilities, or manufacturing processes, a denial of service attack can result in significant operational disruptions. The vulnerability creates an attack surface that allows remote adversaries to systematically disable monitoring and control capabilities, potentially leading to cascading failures in industrial processes. Organizations using these systems face the risk of extended downtime, production losses, and potential safety hazards when control systems become unavailable due to this flaw.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and represents a classic example of a resource exhaustion attack pattern that maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1499 for network disruption and T1566 for social engineering. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper input sanitization and resource management in industrial control systems where traditional cybersecurity measures may not be sufficient. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to address this vulnerability, while also implementing network segmentation and monitoring controls to detect anomalous data patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of the vendor-provided security update version 11.0.19.2 which addresses the buffer handling deficiencies in the EOSDataServer.exe component. Network administrators should implement rate limiting and connection throttling mechanisms on port 24006 to prevent excessive data flow from overwhelming the system. Additional protective measures include deploying network intrusion detection systems that can identify unusual traffic patterns on the affected port and implementing strict access controls to limit which systems can communicate with the EOScada server. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their industrial control systems to identify similar weaknesses in other components and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts before they can cause operational disruption.