CVE-2014-4686 in WinCC
Summary
by MITRE
The Project administration application in Siemens SIMATIC WinCC before 7.3, as used in PCS7 and other products, has a hardcoded encryption key, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by extracting this key from another product installation and then employing this key during the sniffing of network traffic on TCP port 1030.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-4686 affects Siemens SIMATIC WinCC versions prior to 7.3, specifically within the Project administration application component. This flaw resides in industrial control systems that are part of the broader Siemens PCS7 product suite and other related industrial automation solutions. The vulnerability stems from the implementation of cryptographic functions within the network communication protocols used by these industrial control systems, which are critical for manufacturing and process control environments. The presence of a hardcoded encryption key represents a fundamental security weakness that directly impacts the confidentiality of sensitive operational data transmitted over network connections.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a hardcoded cryptographic key that is embedded within the software installation files of Siemens SIMATIC WinCC before version 7.3. This hardcoded key is used to encrypt network traffic transmitted over TCP port 1030, which is the standard port used by WinCC for communication with other system components. Attackers can extract this encryption key from a legitimate installation of the software and subsequently use it to decrypt network traffic intercepted during monitoring activities. This approach leverages the principle of weak cryptographic implementation where the security of the system depends on the secrecy of the key, which is instead embedded within the software itself. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-327, which addresses the use of broken or weak cryptographic algorithms, and CWE-321, which covers the use of hardcoded passwords or keys.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of industrial control systems. Remote attackers who can intercept network traffic on TCP port 1030 can gain access to sensitive operational data including configuration parameters, user credentials, system status information, and potentially operational commands. This information exposure can enable attackers to develop more sophisticated attack vectors, including system reconnaissance, privilege escalation, and eventually system compromise. The vulnerability particularly affects critical infrastructure environments where industrial control systems are deployed, as it undermines the confidentiality guarantees that are essential for maintaining operational integrity and preventing unauthorized access to critical processes. The attack vector described in the vulnerability description aligns with ATT&CK technique T1041, which involves data compression and T1071.101 for application layer protocols, as attackers leverage legitimate network communication channels to extract sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by Siemens to address the hardcoded encryption key issue. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate industrial control systems from general network access, thereby limiting potential attack surfaces. Network traffic monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns or unauthorized access attempts on TCP port 1030. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their industrial control system environments to identify other potential hardcoded credentials or weak cryptographic implementations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure software development practices and proper cryptographic key management in industrial environments, where traditional network security measures may be insufficient to protect against determined attackers who can reverse engineer embedded security components. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other industrial control system components and ensure compliance with security standards such as IEC 62443 and NIST SP 800-82 for industrial control systems.