CVE-2012-3008 in PI OPC DA Interface
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in OSIsoft PI OPC DA Interface before 2.3.20.9 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code by sending packet data during the processing of messages associated with OPC items.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3008 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within the OSIsoft PI OPC DA Interface software, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.3.20.9. This flaw resides in the manner the application processes incoming packet data during OPC item message handling, creating a pathway for remote authenticated attackers to gain arbitrary code execution privileges. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking within the software's communication processing routines, which fail to properly sanitize or limit the size of data received from OPC clients.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the OPC DA Interface receives malformed packet data containing oversized buffers that exceed the allocated stack space for processing OPC items. This condition violates fundamental memory safety principles and creates a predictable stack corruption scenario that can be exploited by malicious actors who have already established authentication credentials within the system. The vulnerability manifests through the application's failure to implement proper bounds checking mechanisms during the parsing and processing of OPC DA protocol messages, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations with carefully crafted malicious data payloads.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to industrial control systems and process automation environments that rely on OSIsoft PI systems for data acquisition and monitoring. The requirement for remote authentication before exploitation means that attackers must first compromise valid user credentials or gain access through other attack vectors, but once authenticated, they can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected service account. This capability enables attackers to potentially escalate their access within the industrial network, modify operational data, or disrupt critical processes that depend on the PI system for real-time monitoring and control.
The exploitability of CVE-2012-3008 aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and CWE-121 for stack-based buffer overflow, demonstrating how authentication bypass or credential compromise can lead to code execution in industrial environments. Organizations utilizing OSIsoft PI OPC DA Interface should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of version 2.3.20.9 or later, which includes proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Additional mitigations should include network segmentation to limit access to OPC DA interfaces, implementation of strict authentication controls, and monitoring for unusual OPC DA communication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date industrial control system software and implementing robust security practices in operational technology environments where system integrity and availability are paramount.