CVE-2013-2794 in SCADA Data Gateway
Summary
by MITRE
Triangle MicroWorks SCADA Data Gateway 2.50.0309 through 3.00.0616, DNP3 .NET Protocol components 3.06.0.171 through 3.15.0.369, and DNP3 C libraries 3.06.0000 through 3.15.0000 allow physically proximate attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via crafted input over a serial line.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2794 affects Triangle MicroWorks SCADA Data Gateway and related DNP3 protocol components, specifically targeting versions ranging from 2.50.0309 through 3.00.0616 for the gateway, 3.06.0.171 through 3.15.0.369 for the .NET Protocol components, and 3.06.0000 through 3.15.0000 for the DNP3 C libraries. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that enables attackers with physical proximity to the affected systems to trigger a denial of service condition through carefully crafted input transmitted over serial communication lines. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-838, which deals with insufficient input validation, specifically highlighting the lack of proper validation of serial line inputs that could lead to system instability. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only physical proximity, making it accessible to attackers who can physically access the networked devices or communication infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests as an infinite loop condition within the DNP3 protocol processing code when handling malformed or specially crafted serial input data. This occurs during the parsing and processing of DNP3 frames transmitted over serial connections, where the protocol implementation fails to properly validate incoming data structures before attempting to process them. When an attacker sends specifically crafted data packets that exploit the input validation gap, the system enters an infinite loop state where it continuously processes the malformed input without proper termination conditions. This behavior effectively consumes all available CPU resources and renders the affected system unable to process legitimate communication, creating a denial of service scenario that can persist until the system is manually restarted or the malformed input is removed from the communication channel.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it affects critical infrastructure monitoring and control systems that rely on DNP3 protocol communications for industrial automation and smart grid applications. The vulnerability particularly impacts SCADA systems where real-time monitoring and control are essential for operational continuity, as any denial of service condition can lead to cascading failures in the monitored processes. The requirement for physical proximity significantly limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk, especially in environments where unauthorized physical access is possible or where attackers might exploit other attack vectors to gain proximity to the affected systems. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1210, which involves exploitation of remote services through manipulation of input data, and represents a significant concern for operational technology environments where physical security controls may be insufficient or compromised.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including firmware and software updates to the latest versions of Triangle MicroWorks components that contain fixes for the input validation issues. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit physical access to affected systems, particularly in critical infrastructure environments where the vulnerability could have severe consequences. Monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unusual CPU utilization patterns that might indicate the occurrence of the infinite loop condition, and automated alerting should be implemented to notify operators of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, the implementation of input validation controls at multiple layers of the communication stack, including serial line monitoring and protocol-level validation, can provide additional protection against similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their industrial control systems to identify and remediate similar input validation weaknesses that could be exploited in similar scenarios. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing comprehensive security monitoring for industrial control systems, as the affected versions represent a significant window of exposure that could be exploited by adversaries with physical access to the affected infrastructure.