CVE-2013-0715 in VxWorks
Summary
by MITRE
The WebCLI component in Wind River VxWorks 5.5 through 6.9 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (CLI session crash) via a crafted command string.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0715 resides within the WebCLI component of Wind River VxWorks operating systems versions 5.5 through 6.9. This issue represents a significant security weakness that affects embedded systems developers and administrators who rely on VxWorks for mission-critical applications. The WebCLI functionality provides a web-based interface for remote command line access to VxWorks systems, enabling users to perform administrative tasks through a browser-based interface. However, this convenient feature introduces a dangerous flaw that can be exploited by authenticated attackers to disrupt system operations.
The technical flaw manifests when a remote authenticated user crafts a specific command string that triggers an improper input validation mechanism within the WebCLI component. This vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation as defined by CWE-20, where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before processing it. When the malformed command string is submitted through the web interface, the underlying command processing logic does not adequately handle the unexpected input, resulting in a critical failure that causes the CLI session to crash. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication to exploit, meaning that any user with valid credentials can potentially disrupt system availability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can compromise the reliability and availability of embedded systems that depend on VxWorks for their operation. In industrial control systems, medical devices, or automotive applications where VxWorks is commonly deployed, a denial of service attack could lead to significant operational disruptions. The CLI session crash effectively terminates the user's administrative session, forcing them to re-authenticate and potentially losing ongoing administrative tasks or configurations. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network disruption through resource exhaustion or session termination, and represents a clear pathway for attackers to degrade system availability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from system administrators and security teams responsible for VxWorks deployments. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the vendor-provided patches or updates that address the input validation flaw in the WebCLI component. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the exposure of systems running vulnerable versions of VxWorks. Additionally, monitoring for unusual authentication patterns or command execution attempts can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should consider disabling the WebCLI component entirely if it is not essential for operations, as this eliminates the attack surface associated with the vulnerable interface. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that patched systems maintain full functionality while eliminating the denial of service vulnerability. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their embedded systems infrastructure to identify other potential vulnerabilities in similar components or subsystems that may present similar risks.