CVE-2013-2783 in IOServer
Summary
by MITRE
The DNP3 driver in IOServer drivers 1.0.19.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) or obtain unspecified control via crafted data to TCP port 20000.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2783 resides within the DNP3 driver component of IOServer drivers version 1.0.19.0, representing a critical security flaw that affects industrial control systems and supervisory control and data acquisition environments. This vulnerability specifically targets the communication protocols used in critical infrastructure systems, where the DNP3 protocol serves as a standard for communication between remote terminal units and master stations in electric power systems. The affected system operates on TCP port 20000, which is the standard port for DNP3 protocol communications, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to disrupt critical infrastructure operations.
The technical flaw manifests through a design weakness in how the DNP3 driver processes incoming data packets, allowing remote attackers to craft malicious data sequences that trigger an infinite loop condition within the system's processing logic. This infinite loop occurs when the driver fails to properly validate or handle specific malformed data structures that are sent over the network to the targeted TCP port 20000. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms and lacks proper bounds checking for data received from network sources, creating a path for exploitation that can be executed without authentication or prior access to the system. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in the input validation process and can be categorized under CWE-129, which deals with insufficient validation of length of input buffers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it can potentially allow attackers to gain unspecified control over the affected system. The infinite loop condition causes the system to consume excessive CPU resources and can lead to complete system unresponsiveness, effectively creating a denial of service scenario that can disrupt critical infrastructure operations. In industrial environments where continuous operation is essential, such as power grid management systems, water treatment facilities, or manufacturing processes, this vulnerability can result in significant operational disruptions and potential safety hazards. The ability to obtain unspecified control suggests that attackers might be able to escalate their privileges or manipulate system behavior beyond simple service disruption, potentially leading to unauthorized access to operational controls or data manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-2783 should focus on immediate network-level protections combined with system-level updates and monitoring. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate critical systems from general network access, particularly blocking access to TCP port 20000 from untrusted networks. The most effective solution involves applying the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to IOServer drivers to version 1.0.20.0 or later, which includes proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Additionally, implementing network intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection for known malicious DNP3 traffic patterns can help identify exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1499.004 for network denial of service, highlighting the need for both defensive measures and monitoring capabilities to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in industrial control system environments, while maintaining proper network access controls and implementing zero-trust principles for critical infrastructure communications.