CVE-2012-5864 in Esolar Duo Photovoltaic System Monitor
Summary
by MITRE
The management web pages 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 do not require authentication, which allows remote attackers to obtain administrative access via a direct request, as demonstrated by a request to ping.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2025
The Sinapsi eSolar Light Photovoltaic System Monitor represents a critical security vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5864, affecting Schneider Electric Ezylog photovoltaic SCADA management servers and related devices. This vulnerability stems from a fundamental flaw in the authentication mechanism of the device's web management interface, creating an exploitable condition that allows unauthorized remote access to administrative functions. The affected firmware versions prior to 2.0.2870_2.2.12 demonstrate a clear failure in implementing proper access controls, exposing sensitive system management capabilities to any remote attacker who can reach the device's network interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through direct HTTP requests to specific management endpoints, with ping.php serving as a demonstrative example of the accessible administrative functionality. This flaw constitutes a classic authentication bypass vulnerability that falls under CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The vulnerability exists because the web application fails to implement proper session management or authentication checks before granting access to administrative functions, allowing any remote user to execute privileged operations without providing credentials. The exposed management interface effectively provides attackers with complete control over the photovoltaic system monitoring capabilities, including the ability to modify system configurations, access sensitive operational data, and potentially disrupt system functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of solar energy monitoring systems that are increasingly connected to corporate networks and internet-facing infrastructure. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can gain complete administrative control over the SCADA management server, potentially leading to data breaches, system manipulation, or denial of service conditions that could affect solar energy generation monitoring and reporting. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in industrial control systems environments where operational technology networks may lack proper segmentation from corporate IT networks, creating potential pathways for attackers to escalate their access to broader network infrastructure. The vulnerability directly maps to attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1190 technique for Exploit Public-Facing Application, where adversaries target exposed web applications to gain initial access to target networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5864 require immediate firmware updates to versions 2.0.2870_2.2.12 or later, which should implement proper authentication mechanisms for all management interfaces. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to isolate these devices from general network access, deploy network access controls to restrict access to management ports, and consider disabling unnecessary web management interfaces when not actively required for system administration. Additionally, regular security assessments of industrial control systems should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities, and network monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts to management interfaces. The vulnerability highlights the importance of securing operational technology systems and demonstrates how legacy firmware updates remain critical for maintaining security in connected industrial environments, particularly those involving renewable energy monitoring systems that may be exposed to internet-based threats.