CVE-2013-2811 in Intelligent Platforms Proficy Hmi
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) Catapult DNP3 I/O driver before 7.2.0.60 and the (2) GE Intelligent Platforms Proficy DNP3 I/O driver before 7.20k, as used in DNPDrv.exe (aka the DNP master station server) in GE Intelligent Platforms Proficy HMI/SCADA - CIMPLICITY and iFIX, allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a crafted DNP3 TCP packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2811 represents a critical denial of service weakness affecting industrial control systems that utilize DNP3 communication protocols. This flaw exists within the Catapult DNP3 I/O driver versions prior to 7.2.0.60 and the GE Intelligent Platforms Proficy DNP3 I/O driver versions before 7.20k, specifically impacting the DNPDrv.exe component that serves as the DNP master station server within GE Intelligent Platforms Proficy HMI/SCADA systems including CIMPLICITY and iFIX. The vulnerability manifests when these systems receive specially crafted DNP3 TCP packets that trigger an infinite loop condition, effectively rendering the affected systems unavailable for legitimate operations. This issue directly impacts the operational continuity of industrial environments that rely on these communication protocols for critical infrastructure monitoring and control.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of DNP3 protocol messaging structures within TCP packets transmitted to the affected systems. When the DNPDrv.exe process receives these malformed packets, it fails to properly validate incoming DNP3 frames and instead enters an infinite loop during packet processing, consuming system resources and preventing normal operation. This behavior constitutes a classic denial of service attack vector that leverages protocol implementation weaknesses rather than cryptographic vulnerabilities or authentication bypasses. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-674, which deals with uncontrolled recursion in software systems, and represents a failure in proper input validation and error handling mechanisms within the DNP3 protocol stack implementation. The infinite loop condition essentially causes the system to become unresponsive, requiring manual intervention or system restart to restore functionality.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2811 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise industrial control system integrity and safety. In critical infrastructure environments utilizing GE Proficy HMI/SCADA systems, this vulnerability could lead to extended downtime during critical operations, particularly in scenarios where continuous monitoring and control are essential for process safety. The affected systems typically operate in environments where availability is paramount, such as power generation, water treatment, and manufacturing facilities, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a cybersecurity and operational resilience perspective. The attack vector is remote and requires no authentication, making it accessible to adversaries who can simply send malicious packets to the targeted systems, potentially causing cascading failures in industrial processes. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which describes denial of service attacks targeting network services and system availability.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches for both the Catapult DNP3 I/O driver and the GE Intelligent Platforms Proficy DNP3 I/O driver versions. System administrators should also consider network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of these critical systems to untrusted networks. The implementation of network monitoring solutions capable of detecting anomalous DNP3 traffic patterns can provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their industrial control system environments to identify other potentially affected components that may share similar protocol implementations. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched systems in controlled environments before deployment to production systems to ensure that the patches do not introduce new operational issues. Regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes should be implemented to maintain ongoing protection against similar threats in industrial control system environments.