CVE-2012-1813 in EOScada
Summary
by MITRE
eosfailoverservice.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 12000.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1813 affects the eosfailoverservice.exe component within C3-ilex EOScada software versions prior to 11.0.19.2. This critical flaw resides in the handling of network traffic on TCP port 12000, which serves as a primary communication channel for the failover service functionality. The affected system operates within industrial control environments where continuous operation is paramount, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can disrupt critical infrastructure operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and buffer management within the eosfailoverservice.exe process. When remote attackers send excessive amounts of data to the designated TCP port 12000, the service fails to properly handle the overflow conditions, leading to system instability and eventual service termination. This represents a classic buffer overflow scenario that falls under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions. The flaw demonstrates poor error handling practices and inadequate resource management that allows malicious data streams to overwhelm the service's capacity to process legitimate requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can compromise the entire industrial control system's reliability and availability. In environments where EOScada systems manage critical infrastructure such as power grids, water treatment facilities, or manufacturing processes, a denial of service attack can result in significant operational downtime and potential safety risks. The vulnerability creates an entry point for attackers to systematically disable failover mechanisms that are designed to maintain system redundancy and prevent catastrophic failures. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers network denial of service attacks targeting critical infrastructure systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1813 should prioritize immediate software updates to version 11.0.19.2 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the buffer handling deficiencies. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to restrict unauthorized access to TCP port 12000, utilizing firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious traffic patterns. Additionally, implementing rate limiting and connection monitoring on the affected port can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other systems running vulnerable versions of the EOScada software and ensure comprehensive network security monitoring is in place to detect similar patterns of attack. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in industrial control systems and demonstrates how seemingly simple input validation issues can lead to significant operational disruptions in critical infrastructure environments.