CVE-2014-2357 in SubSTATION Server
Summary
by MITRE
The GPT library in the Telegyr 8979 Master Protocol application in SUBNET SubSTATION Server 2 before SSNET 2.12 HF18808 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (persistent service crash) via a long RTU-to-Master message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2357 represents a critical denial of service weakness within the Telegyr 8979 Master Protocol application running on SUBNET SubSTATION Server devices. This flaw specifically affects versions prior to SSNET 2.12 HF18808 and resides within the GPT library component that handles communication protocols. The vulnerability manifests when remote attackers exploit improper input validation mechanisms that fail to adequately process RTU-to-Master messages of excessive length. This weakness falls under the CWE-129 category of Improper Validation of Array Index, as the system does not properly validate the length of incoming messages before processing them. The attack vector operates over network communication channels where malicious actors can send oversized messages that exceed the application's expected message buffer limits.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer overflow scenario where the GPT library lacks proper bounds checking for incoming RTU-to-Master communications. When the application receives a message that exceeds predefined length parameters, the system fails to gracefully handle the overflow condition and instead crashes the service entirely. This results in persistent service disruption that requires manual intervention to restore normal operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows remote attackers to maintain control over the service availability without requiring authentication credentials, making it a significant threat to industrial control systems. The attack operates at the application layer and leverages the protocol implementation's failure to sanitize input parameters, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-2357 extends beyond simple service interruption to potentially compromise entire substation operations and grid stability. Industrial environments relying on SUBNET SubSTATION Server implementations become vulnerable to sustained denial of service attacks that can disrupt critical infrastructure monitoring and control functions. The persistent nature of the crash means that even after the initial attack, the system requires manual restart procedures that can delay restoration of normal operations. This vulnerability directly affects the availability aspect of the CIA triad and can create cascading failures in interconnected systems. Organizations implementing these protocols face significant risk of operational downtime that can impact power distribution reliability and safety monitoring capabilities. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require advanced technical skills, making it accessible to threat actors with basic network knowledge and increasing the potential attack surface. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation, message length restrictions, and network segmentation to prevent unauthorized access to critical control systems. Additionally, regular firmware updates and security patches are essential to address this vulnerability and maintain operational resilience against similar threats.