CVE-2013-2785 in Intelligent Platforms Proficy Hmi
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in CimWebServer.exe in the WebView component in GE Intelligent Platforms Proficy HMI/SCADA - CIMPLICITY before 8.0 SIM 27, 8.1 before SIM 25, and 8.2 before SIM 19, and Proficy Process Systems with CIMPLICITY, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted data in packets to TCP port 10212, aka ZDI-CAN-1621 and ZDI-CAN-1624.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2785 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the CimWebServer.exe component of GE Intelligent Platforms Proficy HMI/SCADA - CIMPLICITY software suite. This flaw exists within the WebView component that handles incoming network traffic on TCP port 10212, making it susceptible to remote code execution attacks. The affected versions include Proficy HMI/SCADA CIMPLICITY before 8.0 SIM 27, 8.1 before SIM 25, and 8.2 before SIM 19, along with Proficy Process Systems utilizing CIMPLICITY. The vulnerability was independently identified and catalogued as ZDI-CAN-1621 and ZDI-CAN-1624 by the Zero Day Initiative, highlighting its significance in the cybersecurity landscape. This issue falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the CimWebServer.exe process that manages web-based interfaces for industrial control systems. When the WebView component receives crafted data packets through TCP port 10212, it fails to properly bounds-check incoming data before copying it into fixed-size memory buffers. This allows attackers to overflow these buffers and overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially including return addresses and function pointers. The flaw enables attackers to inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the affected service, which typically runs with elevated system permissions in industrial environments. The buffer overflow occurs during the processing of web-based commands and data transfers, making it particularly dangerous in operational technology environments where these systems control critical infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it poses severe risks to industrial control systems and critical infrastructure operations. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to supervisory control and data acquisition systems, potentially disrupting production processes, modifying operational parameters, or even causing physical damage to equipment. The nature of industrial environments means that such attacks could result in significant financial losses, safety hazards, and operational downtime. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the systems, making it particularly dangerous in environments where industrial networks may be connected to corporate networks or the internet. This represents a significant concern for the industrial control systems community and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of remote services and network-based attacks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches for the affected versions of Proficy HMI/SCADA CIMPLICITY, network segmentation to isolate these systems from general corporate networks, and implementing network access controls to restrict access to TCP port 10212. The security community should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious traffic patterns targeting this specific vulnerability. Regular security assessments of industrial control systems should be conducted to identify and remediate similar buffer overflow conditions. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts against this vulnerability. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patches in non-production environments before deployment to ensure operational continuity of critical industrial processes. Organizations should also consider implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include network monitoring, access controls, and regular vulnerability assessments to protect against similar future vulnerabilities in industrial control systems.