CVE-2013-3927 in COMOS
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the client library in Siemens COMOS 9.2 before 9.2.0.6.10 and 10.0 before 10.0.3.0.4 allows local users to obtain unintended write access to the database by leveraging read access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3927 represents a critical access control flaw within the client library of Siemens COMOS software versions 9.2 before 9.2.0.6.10 and 10.0 before 10.0.3.0.4. This issue manifests as an insufficient authorization mechanism that permits local attackers with read privileges to escalate their permissions and gain unintended write access to database resources. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of user permissions within the client-side components that handle database interactions, creating a path for privilege escalation attacks.
This security weakness operates through a classic privilege escalation vector where a malicious actor with read-only access can manipulate the client library to perform write operations against database objects. The flaw exists in the client library implementation rather than the server-side database management system itself, making it particularly concerning for industrial control environments where COMOS is commonly deployed. The vulnerability allows attackers to bypass intended access controls and modify database content that should remain protected from unauthorized changes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly within industrial environments where Siemens COMOS is utilized for process control and monitoring systems. Local users who have legitimate read access to the system can exploit this flaw to modify critical database entries, potentially leading to system instability, data corruption, or even operational disruptions in process control environments. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where database integrity is paramount for maintaining process safety and operational continuity, as unauthorized modifications could compromise the reliability of control systems.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. The attack vector is classified as local privilege escalation, falling under ATT&CK technique T1068 for local privilege escalation. Organizations using affected Siemens COMOS versions face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where multiple users share systems or where security boundaries are not properly enforced. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation in industrial control systems where database integrity directly impacts operational safety.
The recommended mitigation strategies include immediate deployment of the vendor-provided patches for Siemens COMOS versions 9.2.0.6.10 and 10.0.3.0.4, along with implementing network segmentation to limit local access to systems running COMOS software. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive access control reviews to ensure that users have only the minimum necessary permissions required for their operational roles. Additionally, monitoring for unauthorized database access attempts and implementing database audit trails can help detect exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of industrial control systems should include evaluation of client library components to identify similar access control vulnerabilities that could compromise system integrity.