CVE-2013-0681 in OPC DataHub
Summary
by MITRE
Cogent Real-Time Systems Cogent DataHub before 7.3.0, OPC DataHub before 6.4.22, Cascade DataHub before 6.4.22 on Windows, and DataHub QuickTrend before 7.3.0 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and application crash) via malformed data in a formatted text command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/28/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0681 represents a critical denial of service weakness affecting several industrial data acquisition and processing systems manufactured by Cogent Real-Time Systems. This flaw specifically impacts Cogent DataHub versions prior to 7.3.0, OPC DataHub versions before 6.4.22, Cascade DataHub versions before 6.4.22 on Windows platforms, and DataHub QuickTrend versions before 7.3.0. These systems are widely deployed in industrial control environments where reliable data processing and continuous operation are paramount for operational safety and business continuity. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the command processing subsystem, particularly when handling formatted text commands that contain malformed data structures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through a NULL pointer dereference condition that occurs when the affected software processes malformed data within formatted text commands. When an attacker crafts and sends specially crafted data packets containing malformed structures to these systems, the software's command parser fails to properly validate the incoming data before attempting to dereference pointers that may be NULL. This results in an application crash and subsequent denial of service condition that can disrupt critical industrial processes. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-476 as a NULL pointer dereference, which represents a common software flaw where programs attempt to access memory through a pointer that has not been properly initialized or has been set to NULL.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to industrial environments where these data systems are deployed, including manufacturing facilities, energy infrastructure, and process control systems. The remote attack vector means that malicious actors can exploit this weakness from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or local credentials, making it particularly dangerous for industrial control systems that may have limited network segmentation. The denial of service impact can result in complete system unavailability, potentially leading to production halts, safety system failures, or cascading operational disruptions. According to ATT&CK framework category T1499, this vulnerability enables adversaries to disrupt services and compromise availability of critical systems, which can have severe consequences in operational technology environments.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through automated tools that generate malformed text commands. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to the patched versions of the affected software products, specifically targeting Cogent DataHub 7.3.0, OPC DataHub 6.4.22, Cascade DataHub 6.4.22, and DataHub QuickTrend 7.3.0. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of these systems to untrusted networks, while intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious command traffic patterns. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in industrial control system environments, as these systems often operate with limited security monitoring capabilities compared to traditional enterprise environments. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices in industrial software development and the need for comprehensive security testing of control systems before deployment in operational environments.