CVE-2013-2822 in Orion5r Dnp Slave
Summary
by MITRE
NovaTech Orion Substation Automation Platform OrionLX DNP Master 1.27.38 and DNP Slave 1.23.10 and earlier and Orion5/Orion5r DNP Master 1.27.38 and DNP Slave 1.23.10 and earlier allow physically proximate attackers to cause a denial of service (driver crash and process restart) via crafted input over a serial line.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2822 affects the NovaTech Orion Substation Automation Platform, specifically targeting the OrionLX and Orion5/Orion5r devices that implement DNP (Distributed Network Protocol) master and slave functionalities. This issue resides within the serial communication handling mechanisms of these industrial automation systems, which are critical components in power grid infrastructure and other industrial control systems. The affected versions include OrionLX DNP Master 1.27.38 and DNP Slave 1.23.10 and earlier, as well as Orion5/Orion5r DNP Master 1.27.38 and DNP Slave 1.23.10 and earlier, representing a significant attack surface within industrial control environments where physical proximity is often required for exploitation.
The technical flaw manifests through improper input validation within the serial communication drivers of these automation platforms. When crafted malicious input is transmitted over the serial line, the system fails to properly sanitize or handle the data, leading to driver crashes that subsequently trigger process restarts. This behavior represents a classic buffer overflow or input validation vulnerability where the system does not adequately protect against malformed data sequences that can cause unexpected termination of critical processes. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level, specifically targeting the DNP communication stack that governs how industrial devices communicate with each other in substation environments. The attack requires physical proximity to the device, which aligns with the concept of physical attack surface exploitation in industrial control systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can potentially disrupt critical infrastructure operations within power distribution networks and other industrial environments. When the driver crashes and the process restarts, it can cause temporary loss of communication between devices, potentially leading to cascading failures in monitoring and control functions. The restart of processes may also result in loss of configuration data or temporary unavailability of critical control functions, which could affect the reliability and safety of industrial operations. This vulnerability particularly impacts environments where continuous operation is critical, as any disruption in communication between substation devices can have far-reaching consequences for grid stability and operational efficiency. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service issue aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a significant concern for industrial security frameworks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate protective measures and long-term architectural improvements. Network segmentation and physical access controls are essential to prevent unauthorized individuals from reaching the affected devices, as the vulnerability requires physical proximity for exploitation. Regular firmware updates and patch management processes should be implemented to ensure that all devices in the industrial control environment are running the latest secure versions. The implementation of intrusion detection systems specifically designed for industrial environments can help identify anomalous serial communication patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, operational procedures should include regular monitoring of device status and communication integrity to quickly detect any unexpected restarts or process failures that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege for serial communication access and establish clear protocols for handling physical security in industrial control environments, aligning with the industrial control system security guidelines outlined in standards such as NIST SP 800-82 and IEC 62443.