CVE-2013-4651 in Scalance W788-1pro
Summary
by MITRE
Siemens Scalance W7xx devices with firmware before 4.5.4 use the same hardcoded X.509 certificate across different customers installations, which makes it easier for remote attackers to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks against SSL sessions by leveraging the certificate s trust relationship.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4651 affects Siemens Scalance W7xx industrial network devices, specifically those operating with firmware versions prior to 4.5.4. These devices are widely deployed in industrial control systems and critical infrastructure environments where network security is paramount. The flaw stems from a fundamental design weakness in the device's cryptographic implementation where a single, hardcoded X.509 certificate is embedded across multiple customer installations. This represents a severe security oversight that directly violates established principles of cryptographic key management and device authentication.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in the improper implementation of SSL/TLS certificate distribution within industrial networking equipment. When multiple devices within different organizations share identical certificate fingerprints, it creates a predictable security weakness that attackers can exploit. The hardcoded certificate serves as a universal identifier that can be easily obtained through network reconnaissance or by analyzing captured network traffic from any affected device. This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses, specifically the use of hardcoded cryptographic keys or certificates. The flaw enables attackers to establish trust relationships with legitimate devices without proper authentication, creating an environment where man-in-the-middle attacks become significantly more feasible.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple network interception. Industrial control systems that rely on these devices for network communication become vulnerable to sophisticated attack vectors that could compromise critical infrastructure operations. An attacker with access to the hardcoded certificate can potentially decrypt SSL sessions, modify network traffic, or even impersonate legitimate devices within the network. This creates a cascading security risk where the compromise of a single device could potentially affect an entire industrial network segment. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which involves network service scanning and T1566 which covers credential harvesting through social engineering or network reconnaissance.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware upgrades to version 4.5.4 or later, which should include unique certificate generation for each device installation. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential compromise and establish monitoring procedures to detect unusual network activity. The remediation process must include certificate revocation for the affected hardcoded certificates and implementation of proper certificate lifecycle management. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing network intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify SSL/TLS session anomalies and certificate mismatches. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of device-specific cryptographic implementations in industrial environments and serves as a reminder of the security implications when cryptographic assets are shared across multiple installations. The incident underscores the necessity for robust device identity management and the avoidance of hardcoded security credentials in production systems.