CVE-2013-2800 in PI Interface
Summary
by MITRE
The OSIsoft PI Interface for IEEE C37.118 before 1.0.6.158 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption or memory corruption, instance shutdown, and data-collection outage) via crafted C37.118 configuration packets.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2800 affects the OSIsoft PI Interface for IEEE C37.118 software version prior to 1.0.6.158, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against industrial control systems. This interface serves as a crucial component for collecting and processing power system data according to the IEEE C37.118 standard, which governs synchrophasor data communication in electric power systems. The flaw specifically manifests through improper handling of crafted configuration packets that violate the expected data format and structure defined by the C37.118 protocol specification.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the PI Interface software. When the system receives malformed or specially crafted C37.118 configuration packets, the software fails to properly validate the packet structure and content before processing. This lack of robust validation allows attackers to construct packets that trigger memory allocation errors, buffer overflows, or other memory corruption conditions within the application's processing pipeline. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level where the software interprets configuration parameters that define how data collection should be performed, making it particularly dangerous in industrial environments where continuous data flow is essential for system monitoring and control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption to encompass potential system instability and data loss within critical infrastructure environments. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw to consume excessive system memory, leading to system crashes or forced shutdowns that result in complete data-collection outages. The memory consumption aspect of the attack can gradually deplete system resources until the application becomes unresponsive, while memory corruption can cause unpredictable behavior that may lead to data integrity issues. In power system monitoring contexts, such outages can compromise real-time situational awareness and potentially impact grid stability, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for utilities and industrial control system operators.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow scenarios, both of which represent common memory corruption vulnerabilities in industrial control systems. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1072, which involves software deployment to compromise systems. The attack vector requires minimal privileges since it operates over network protocols and targets the configuration interface of the industrial monitoring system. Organizations utilizing this interface should implement immediate mitigations including software updates to version 1.0.6.158 or later, network segmentation to limit access to the affected interface, and monitoring for unusual configuration packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the increasing cybersecurity challenges faced by industrial control systems that often lack the robust security features found in traditional enterprise environments. Many industrial protocols and interfaces were designed primarily for functionality and performance rather than security, creating inherent vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit to disrupt critical operations. The IEEE C37.118 standard itself, while providing essential communication protocols for power system monitoring, does not mandate specific security controls that would prevent this type of exploitation. Organizations must therefore implement additional security layers including network access controls, intrusion detection systems, and regular security assessments to protect against similar vulnerabilities in industrial control environments. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date industrial software and establishing secure configuration practices for all components within critical infrastructure systems.