CVE-2012-5863 in Esolar Duo Photovoltaic System Monitor
Summary
by MITRE
ping.php on the Sinapsi eSolar Light Photovoltaic System Monitor (aka Schneider Electric Ezylog photovoltaic SCADA management server), Sinapsi eSolar, and Sinapsi eSolar DUO with firmware before 2.0.2870_2.2.12 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the ip_dominio parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2025
The CVE-2012-5863 vulnerability affects the Sinapsi eSolar Light Photovoltaic System Monitor, also known as the Schneider Electric Ezylog photovoltaic SCADA management server, along with related eSolar and eSolar DUO devices. This critical security flaw resides in the ping.php web script component of the system's firmware, specifically impacting versions prior to 2.0.2870_2.2.12. The vulnerability represents a classic command injection flaw that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands on the affected devices, potentially compromising the entire photovoltaic monitoring infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper input validation within the ping.php script, which processes the ip_dominio parameter without adequate sanitization. When an attacker submits malicious shell metacharacters as part of this parameter, the system fails to properly escape or filter the input before using it in system command execution contexts. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary shell commands that are subsequently executed with the privileges of the web server process, typically running with elevated system permissions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77, which specifically addresses command injection flaws in software systems, and demonstrates how insufficient input validation can lead to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5863 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate the core photovoltaic monitoring infrastructure. An attacker could potentially gain access to system configuration files, modify monitoring data, disable security features, or even use the compromised device as a pivot point to attack other systems within the same network segment. The SCADA nature of the affected systems means that this vulnerability could potentially disrupt energy production monitoring, compromise data integrity, and create unauthorized access points to critical infrastructure. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, where adversaries leverage legitimate system tools to execute malicious commands.
Organizations utilizing these photovoltaic monitoring systems face significant risk from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where network segmentation is insufficient or where these devices are directly exposed to untrusted networks. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access or local network presence to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for distributed energy infrastructure. Immediate mitigation efforts should focus on firmware updates to version 2.0.2870_2.2.12 or later, which contain proper input validation mechanisms. Network administrators should also implement firewall rules to restrict access to the affected web interfaces, employ intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, and conduct comprehensive network scans to identify any potential compromise of the affected devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and regular firmware updates in industrial control systems, particularly those handling sensitive operational data in energy infrastructure environments.