CVE-2013-0653 in Intelligent Platforms Proficy Process Systems
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in substitute.bcl in the WebView CimWeb subsystem in GE Intelligent Platforms Proficy HMI/SCADA - CIMPLICITY 4.01 through 8.0, and Proficy Process Systems with CIMPLICITY, allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2018
The CVE-2013-0653 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the WebView CimWeb subsystem of GE Intelligent Platforms Proficy HMI/SCADA - CIMPLICITY versions 4.01 through 8.0, as well as in Proficy Process Systems with CIMPLICITY. This vulnerability resides in the substitute.bcl component, which serves as a crucial element in the web-based interface functionality of these industrial control systems. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the system's file handling mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to arbitrary files on the affected systems. The vulnerability specifically targets the way the system processes file paths, allowing malicious actors to manipulate input parameters to navigate beyond intended directories and access sensitive system files.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted network packets that contain malicious path traversal sequences such as "../" or similar directory navigation patterns. When the WebView CimWeb subsystem processes these packets, the substitute.bcl component fails to properly validate or sanitize the input paths, enabling attackers to traverse the file system hierarchy and access files that should remain protected. This weakness directly maps to CWE-22, which defines improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to bypass normal file access controls and retrieve sensitive information, configuration files, credentials, or other system data that could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the industrial control environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0653 is severe within industrial environments where Proficy HMI/SCADA systems are deployed. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can access critical system files including configuration data, user credentials, application logs, and potentially sensitive operational information that could be used for further attacks or system compromise. In industrial control systems, this could lead to unauthorized access to process control parameters, operational data, or even facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as those targeting the industrial control protocols or system integrity. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or prior authentication, making it particularly dangerous in operational technology environments where network segmentation may be limited.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more advanced persistent threats within industrial control environments. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of initial access techniques under the T1190 category, where attackers use remote services or network protocols to gain access to systems. The vulnerability also aligns with T1083, which involves discovering system information through directory listing and file enumeration techniques. Organizations using affected Proficy systems should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation, firewall rules to restrict access to the vulnerable subsystem, and application-level input validation controls. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in industrial software development and underscores the need for regular security assessments of operational technology systems, particularly those handling sensitive industrial control data.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for robust input validation and secure file handling practices in industrial control systems, where the consequences of exploitation can extend beyond traditional information security concerns to impact operational continuity and safety. The affected systems represent critical infrastructure components where the compromise of a single subsystem can have cascading effects throughout the industrial process control environment. Organizations should prioritize patch management and security hardening measures to address this vulnerability, while also implementing comprehensive monitoring and detection capabilities to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in securing industrial control systems against sophisticated cyber threats and the importance of maintaining current security postures in operational technology environments.