CVE-2013-0685 in Wonderware Information Server
Summary
by MITRE
Invensys Wonderware Information Server (WIS) 4.0 SP1SP1, 4.5- Portal, and 5.0- Portal does not restrict unspecified size and amount values, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (resource consumption) via unknown vectors.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0685 affects Invensys Wonderware Information Server versions 4.0 SP1SP1, 4.5- Portal, and 5.0- Portal, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to exploit unspecified size and amount parameter values. This vulnerability falls under the category of unspecified input validation issues that can lead to severe consequences including arbitrary code execution and denial of service conditions. The affected systems are industrial control systems that serve as information servers for manufacturing and process control environments, making them particularly sensitive to security breaches that could compromise operational technology infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of unspecified size and amount values within the Wonderware Information Server implementation. This weakness allows attackers to manipulate input parameters in ways that can cause the application to consume excessive system resources or execute unauthorized code. The vulnerability operates through unknown vectors that have not been fully disclosed in public documentation, suggesting a complex exploitation mechanism that may involve buffer overflows, memory corruption, or resource exhaustion attacks. The lack of proper input validation and size restrictions creates an attack surface where malicious actors can craft specific payloads to trigger the vulnerable behavior.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to industrial environments that rely on Wonderware Information Server for critical data processing and control system communications. The ability to execute arbitrary code remotely means that attackers could potentially gain full control over the affected systems, leading to data breaches, system compromise, and operational disruption. Additionally, the denial of service capability allows attackers to consume system resources and cause service unavailability, which could have cascading effects on industrial processes and manufacturing operations. These impacts align with attack patterns commonly associated with industrial control system vulnerabilities and represent a serious threat to operational technology security.
The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices, and may also relate to CWE-770, concerning allocation of resources without limits or throttling. The attack surface for this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Tactic of Execution and the Tactic of Resource Exhaustion. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation, access controls, and monitoring for unusual resource consumption patterns. Patch management should be prioritized to address the root cause through official vendor updates, while network defenders should deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of validating all input parameters and implementing proper resource limits to prevent both code execution and resource exhaustion attacks in industrial control environments.