CVE-2013-0693 in Dl 8000 Remote Terminal Unit
Summary
by MITRE
The kernel in ENEA OSE on the Emerson Process Management ROC800 RTU with software 3.50 and earlier, DL8000 RTU with software 2.30 and earlier, and ROC800L RTU with software 1.20 and earlier performs network-beacon broadcasts, which allows remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information about device presence by listening for broadcast traffic.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0693 affects the kernel implementation within ENEA OSE operating systems deployed on Emerson Process Management RTU devices including ROC800, DL8000, and ROC800L models. This security flaw resides in the network communication protocols that govern how these industrial control systems interact with their network environment. The issue manifests through the kernel's automatic generation and transmission of network beacon broadcasts that announce the presence of these devices on the network. These beacon packets contain identifying information about the RTU hardware and software configuration, making them valuable intelligence for potential attackers who might be monitoring network traffic.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the kernel's design to continuously broadcast network presence information without proper access controls or encryption mechanisms. This behavior violates fundamental security principles by exposing device identification details to any network observer who can capture the broadcast traffic. The beacon messages typically contain information such as device model, firmware version, and potentially other identifying characteristics that could be used to build attack profiles. This type of information disclosure represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor network security hygiene in industrial control systems. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, which specifically addresses information exposure, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1590 for reconnaissance using network scanning.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks against industrial control systems. Remote attackers who can monitor network traffic can use the beacon information to identify vulnerable devices, map network topology, and prioritize targets for further exploitation. This reconnaissance capability significantly reduces the attack surface for subsequent exploitation attempts, as adversaries can focus their efforts on specific device types and software versions that are known to be vulnerable. The vulnerability affects multiple generations of RTU hardware, indicating a systemic issue within the software implementation rather than isolated component failure. Organizations deploying these systems face increased risk of targeted attacks, particularly in environments where industrial networks are not properly segmented or monitored for anomalous network behavior. The exposure of device presence information creates a predictable attack vector that adversaries can leverage to conduct reconnaissance campaigns before attempting more direct exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on network segmentation and monitoring to prevent unauthorized access to broadcast traffic. Organizations should implement proper network access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel can monitor or interact with industrial control systems. Network administrators should configure firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for beacon traffic patterns and alert on unusual network activity. The most effective long-term solution involves updating the affected RTU systems to versions that address this vulnerability by either disabling the automatic beacon broadcasts or implementing proper access controls for network communication. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive network assessments to identify all affected devices and implement proper network monitoring to detect and respond to potential reconnaissance activities. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for robust security practices in industrial control systems and demonstrates the importance of proper network hygiene in protecting critical infrastructure from cyber threats.