CVE-2014-2370 in Ns12 Hmi Terminal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the web application on Omron NS5, NS8, NS10, NS12, and NS15 HMI terminals 8.1xx through 8.68x allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2025
The CVE-2014-2370 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Omron HMI terminals including NS5, NS8, NS10, NS12, and NS15 models running firmware versions 8.1xx through 8.68x. This vulnerability resides within the web application interface of these industrial control devices, creating a significant security risk for operational technology environments. The flaw enables remote authenticated attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code through carefully crafted data inputs, fundamentally compromising the security posture of industrial systems that rely on these human machine interfaces for monitoring and control operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application layer of the HMI terminals. When authenticated users interact with the web interface, the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be injected and executed in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, where the system does not adequately validate or encode user-controllable data that is subsequently displayed to other users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication to exploit, meaning that any user with legitimate access to the HMI terminal can potentially leverage this flaw to compromise other users within the same system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple web application compromise, as it can severely affect industrial control systems that depend on HMI terminals for critical operations. An attacker could inject malicious scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or execute arbitrary commands within the browser context of other users. This capability could lead to unauthorized access to control systems, data exfiltration, or even potential disruption of industrial processes. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where multiple operators share the same HMI terminal, as the injected scripts could compromise all users accessing the system. From an industrial control perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers credential harvesting through social engineering and web application attacks, potentially enabling further lateral movement within industrial networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2370 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening of the affected HMI systems. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to firmware versions that address this vulnerability, as Omron has released patches specifically designed to resolve the input validation issues. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the exposure of these HMI terminals to untrusted networks, reducing the attack surface available to potential attackers. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against script injection attacks. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual data inputs or patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other industrial control systems. The remediation process must also include comprehensive staff training on secure coding practices and the importance of keeping industrial control systems updated with the latest security patches to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future deployments.