CVE-2012-1812 in EOScada
Summary
by MITRE
eosfailoverservice.exe in C3-ilex EOScada before 11.0.19.2 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive cleartext information via a session on TCP port 12000.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1812 affects the eosfailoverservice.exe component within C3-ilex EOScada software versions prior to 11.0.19.2. This critical security flaw resides in the failover service implementation that operates on TCP port 12000, exposing sensitive cleartext information to remote attackers who can establish network sessions with the affected system. The vulnerability represents a significant weakness in the industrial control system's security architecture, particularly concerning data confidentiality and integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate cryptographic practices within the EOScada failover service. When remote attackers establish connections to TCP port 12000, they can intercept and extract sensitive information transmitted in cleartext format without requiring authentication or authorization. This flaw directly violates fundamental security principles and represents a classic example of cleartext credential exposure, which maps to CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-310 (Cryptography Issues). The service fails to implement proper encryption mechanisms for data transmission, leaving authentication tokens, passwords, and other sensitive operational data vulnerable to interception through network sniffing techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates opportunities for attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical industrial control systems. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to obtain sensitive operational data that may include system credentials, configuration parameters, and control system information that could facilitate further attacks. This exposure poses significant risks to industrial environments where EOScada systems manage critical infrastructure operations, potentially enabling attackers to disrupt operations, manipulate control processes, or escalate privileges within the control system architecture. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in industrial network environments where security boundaries may be less strictly enforced.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1812 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to version 11.0.19.2 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate critical control systems from general network access, particularly restricting access to TCP port 12000 through firewalls and access control lists. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns on the affected port, and administrators should consider implementing network intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their industrial control systems to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components and implement proper encryption protocols for all sensitive data transmission. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may use the obtained information to conduct more sophisticated attacks, while the remediation aligns with defensive techniques such as T1562.004 (Impairing Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools) and T1041 (Exfiltration Over C2 Channel) to prevent further exploitation.