CVE-2012-4358 in Winlog Pro
Summary
by MITRE
Sielco Sistemi Winlog Pro SCADA before 2.07.17 and Winlog Lite SCADA before 2.07.17 do not validate the return value of the realloc function, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid 0x00 write operation and daemon crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a port-46824 TCP packet with a crafted positive integer after the opcode.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4358 affects Sielco Sistemi Winlog Pro SCADA and Winlog Lite SCADA software versions prior to 2.07.17. This issue resides in the handling of TCP packet processing on port 46824, which is commonly used for SCADA communication protocols. The flaw represents a classic memory management error that occurs when the realloc function does not properly validate its return value before subsequent operations. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and memory safety issues, which are categorized as CWE-704 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specifically crafted TCP packet sent to port 46824. When the SCADA system receives a packet containing a positive integer value following an opcode, the application attempts to reallocate memory without first verifying whether the realloc operation was successful. This failure to validate the return value creates a scenario where the application may attempt to write to memory locations that have been deallocated or are otherwise invalid. The consequence is an invalid write operation with a null byte value, which ultimately leads to daemon crashes and system denial of service conditions. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with heap-based buffer overflow conditions and memory corruption issues.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to industrial control systems and critical infrastructure environments where SCADA systems are deployed. The remote attack vector means that malicious actors can exploit this weakness from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or prior authentication. The potential impact extends beyond simple denial of service to include possible arbitrary code execution or system compromise, depending on the specific implementation details and system configuration. This vulnerability directly affects the availability and integrity of SCADA operations, which can have cascading effects on industrial processes, manufacturing operations, and infrastructure management systems. The attack surface is particularly concerning in environments where these SCADA systems control critical operations such as power generation, water treatment, or manufacturing processes.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate software updates to versions 2.07.17 or later where the memory management issue has been addressed. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of port 46824 to trusted networks only. Additional defensive measures include implementing network monitoring to detect anomalous TCP packet patterns on the affected port and establishing intrusion detection systems that can identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their SCADA environments to identify any other systems running vulnerable versions of the software. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to denial of service and privilege escalation through software vulnerabilities, making it a critical concern for industrial cybersecurity programs and compliance with standards such as NIST SP 800-82 and IEC 62443 frameworks.