CVE-2013-0676 in SIMATIC PCS7
Summary
by MITRE
Siemens WinCC before 7.2, as used in SIMATIC PCS7 before 8.0 SP1 and other products, does not properly assign privileges for the database containing WebNavigator credentials, which allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information via a SQL query.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0676 represents a critical privilege escalation and information disclosure flaw within Siemens WinCC software versions prior to 7.2 and SIMATIC PCS7 versions before 8.0 SP1. This issue stems from improper privilege assignment within the database system that stores WebNavigator credentials, creating a significant security gap that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access to sensitive authentication data. The flaw specifically affects industrial control systems and SCADA environments where Siemens products are deployed, making it particularly concerning for critical infrastructure sectors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the database access control mechanisms within Siemens WinCC and SIMATIC PCS7 platforms. When the WebNavigator component stores user credentials in its database, the privilege assignment process fails to properly enforce access controls, allowing authenticated users to execute SQL queries that would normally be restricted. This misconfiguration creates a path where remote authenticated attackers can manipulate database queries to extract sensitive credential information without requiring additional authentication or elevated privileges. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the underlying database management system's query interface to bypass normal access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of industrial control systems. Remote authenticated users can exploit this weakness to obtain administrative credentials, potentially leading to full system compromise and unauthorized control of critical processes. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and represents a classic example of how database privilege misconfigurations can lead to unauthorized data access in industrial environments. The implications are particularly severe in operational technology contexts where system integrity and availability are paramount for safety and operational continuity.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Siemens WinCC 7.2 and SIMATIC PCS7 8.0 SP1 or later versions where the privilege assignment issue has been addressed. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit the exposure of affected systems, while monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized database access attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper privilege management in industrial control systems and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access. Security teams should also consider implementing database activity monitoring and enforcing principle of least privilege for database access to prevent similar issues in other industrial control system components.