CVE-2013-0687 in MiCOM S1 Studio
Summary
by MITRE
The installer routine in Schneider Electric MiCOM S1 Studio uses world-writable permissions for executable files, which allows local users to modify the service or the configuration files, and consequently gain privileges or trigger incorrect protective-relay operation, via a Trojan horse executable file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0687 resides within the installer routine of Schneider Electric MiCOM S1 Studio, a critical industrial control system software used for configuring protective relays in power systems. This weakness represents a fundamental flaw in the software installation process that creates persistent security risks for industrial environments where operational integrity is paramount. The vulnerability specifically affects the permission settings applied to executable files during the installation process, creating opportunities for unauthorized modification that could compromise system security and operational safety.
The technical flaw manifests as the installer routine assigning world-writable permissions to executable files, a configuration that violates basic security principles and creates exploitable conditions within the system architecture. This permission structure allows any local user to modify critical service or configuration files without proper authorization, effectively bypassing the intended access controls that should protect industrial control systems from unauthorized interference. The vulnerability operates at the file system level and directly impacts the integrity of the software installation, creating a path for privilege escalation and system manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially dangerous consequences in industrial control environments. Local users who exploit this weakness could modify protective relay configurations, leading to incorrect protective-relay operation that might result in equipment damage, service interruptions, or even safety hazards in power distribution systems. The ability to inject Trojan horse executable files through this vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that could remain undetected for extended periods, potentially compromising the reliability of critical infrastructure operations. This risk is particularly severe in industrial settings where protective relays are essential for maintaining system stability and preventing catastrophic failures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0687 should focus on immediate permission correction and long-term system hardening approaches. System administrators must ensure that executable files installed by MiCOM S1 Studio are configured with appropriate restrictive permissions that prevent unauthorized modification while maintaining necessary functionality. The remediation process should include verifying and correcting file permissions post-installation, implementing proper access control lists, and establishing monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized changes to critical system files. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit local user privileges and reduce the attack surface. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-732, which addresses incorrect permission assignment, and represents a significant concern within the industrial control systems domain where the ATT&CK framework would categorize this as privilege escalation and persistence tactics. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper installation procedures and access control implementation in critical infrastructure environments where security failures can have severe operational consequences.