CVE-2012-3010 in Intelligent Platforms Proficy Real-Time Information Portal
Summary
by MITRE
rifsrvd.exe in the Remote Interface Service in GE Intelligent Platforms Proficy Real-Time Information Portal 2.6 through 3.5 SP1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and service crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via long input data, a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-3021 and CVE-2012-3026.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3010 affects the Remote Interface Service component within GE Intelligent Platforms Proficy Real-Time Information Portal versions 2.6 through 3.5 SP1. This issue resides in the rifsrvd.exe process which serves as the core service handling remote interface communications. The affected system operates within industrial control environments where real-time data processing and monitoring are critical for operational continuity. The vulnerability represents a significant security concern for organizations relying on these industrial automation platforms, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and process control where system availability directly impacts production operations.
The technical flaw manifests through improper input validation within the rifsrvd.exe service when processing external data requests. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting unusually long input data sequences that exceed the service's expected buffer sizes. This malformed input triggers memory corruption issues within the service's memory management routines, leading to unpredictable behavior including service crashes, memory leaks, or potentially allowing remote code execution. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in network-accessible industrial environments where such services may be exposed to external networks.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-3010 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire industrial control systems. When the rifsrvd.exe service crashes due to memory corruption, it results in denial of service conditions that can halt real-time monitoring and control functions within the Proficy platform. In critical infrastructure environments, this disruption could lead to production halts, safety system failures, or data loss. The potential for remote code execution amplifies the risk significantly, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain persistent access to the industrial control environment, potentially enabling lateral movement to other connected systems or direct manipulation of operational processes.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates for the Proficy Real-Time Information Portal platform. Network segmentation should be enforced to limit access to the affected service to only authorized personnel and systems. The principle of least privilege should be applied to restrict service access and monitor for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on malformed input patterns targeting this specific vulnerability. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 and CWE-122 categories related to buffer overflow conditions, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1499 for network denial of service attacks and potentially T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage if exploitation leads to code execution. Regular vulnerability assessments and security monitoring should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in industrial control system environments.