CVE-2012-3030 in SIMATIC PCS7
Summary
by MITRE
WebNavigator in Siemens WinCC 7.0 SP3 and earlier, as used in SIMATIC PCS7 and other products, stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to read a (1) log file or (2) configuration file via a direct request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3030 affects Siemens WinCC 7.0 SP3 and earlier versions, specifically within the WebNavigator component that is integral to SIMATIC PCS7 and related industrial automation products. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in industrial control systems where proper access controls are essential for maintaining operational integrity and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive operational data. The vulnerability resides in how the web-based interface handles file access permissions, creating a pathway for remote exploitation that could compromise the entire industrial control environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access control mechanisms within the WebNavigator component of Siemens WinCC. When the system processes web requests, it fails to properly validate access permissions for files stored under the web root directory. This allows remote attackers to directly request sensitive files through simple HTTP requests without proper authentication or authorization checks. The vulnerability specifically impacts two critical file types: log files that may contain operational details, user activities, and system events, and configuration files that hold sensitive system parameters, network settings, and operational configurations. The flaw essentially creates a directory traversal or information disclosure vulnerability where attackers can bypass normal access controls to retrieve confidential data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, representing a significant threat to industrial control system security and operational continuity. Remote attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain access to detailed system logs that may reveal system architecture, user access patterns, operational procedures, and potential security weaknesses. Configuration files obtained through this attack vector could provide attackers with critical system parameters including network configurations, user credentials, system settings, and operational parameters that could be used for further exploitation or to understand the target environment. This information disclosure could enable attackers to plan more sophisticated attacks or potentially compromise the entire industrial control system, violating fundamental principles of industrial cybersecurity and potentially leading to operational disruptions or safety incidents.
Organizations using affected Siemens WinCC versions should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves restricting access to the web root directory through proper access control lists and authentication mechanisms, ensuring that sensitive files are not directly accessible via web requests. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to limit access to the affected systems, while regular security audits should verify that no sensitive files are exposed through web interfaces. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious web requests targeting the affected components, as this vulnerability could be exploited as part of broader attack campaigns targeting industrial control systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and could be categorized under ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and reconnaissance activities. Regular system updates and patches from Siemens should be implemented promptly to address this vulnerability, as unpatched systems remain at significant risk of exploitation by threat actors targeting industrial control environments.