CVE-2014-0781 in CENTUM CS 3000
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in BKCLogSvr.exe in Yokogawa CENTUM CS 3000 R3.09.50 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted UDP packets.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0781 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw within the BKCLogSvr.exe component of Yokogawa CENTUM CS 3000 R3.09.50 and earlier versions. This industrial control system software operates within critical infrastructure environments, particularly in process control and automation systems where reliability and security are paramount. The flaw exists in the handling of UDP packets, which are commonly used for communication between various components of industrial control systems. The vulnerability specifically affects the logging server functionality that processes incoming UDP messages, creating a potential entry point for malicious actors to compromise these critical systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the BKCLogSvr.exe application. When the system receives crafted UDP packets, the application fails to properly bounds-check the incoming data before copying it into heap-allocated memory buffers. This lack of proper memory management allows an attacker to overflow the allocated buffer space and overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially including return addresses, function pointers, or other critical control data. The heap-based nature of the overflow means that the attacker can manipulate memory structures that are dynamically allocated during runtime, making the exploitation more complex but also more impactful. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of unsafe memory operations in industrial control software.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it directly threatens the integrity and availability of industrial control systems that are fundamental to critical infrastructure operations. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems without requiring local access or authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical security measures may be limited. The implications are severe for process control systems where unauthorized code execution could lead to production disruptions, safety hazards, or even physical damage to industrial equipment. Given that CENTUM CS 3000 systems are commonly deployed in chemical plants, oil refineries, and other industrial facilities, a successful exploitation could compromise the entire control infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution, and represents a significant threat to the operational technology (OT) security posture of organizations relying on Yokogawa systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate critical control systems from general network access, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious UDP traffic patterns, and applying vendor-provided patches or updates. The recommended approach involves restricting UDP traffic to the affected service to only trusted sources, implementing firewall rules to block unnecessary UDP ports, and conducting thorough network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network access control measures that limit communication between different segments of their industrial control networks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches for industrial control systems, as the affected versions of CENTUM CS 3000 were released before many modern security practices were widely adopted. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning of industrial control systems should become standard practice to identify and remediate similar weaknesses before they can be exploited by adversaries.