CVE-2014-5408 in Nordex Control 2 Scada
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the login script in the Wind Farm Portal on Nordex Control 2 (NC2) SCADA devices 15 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the username parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2025
The CVE-2014-5408 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Wind Farm Portal component of Nordex Control 2 SCADA devices running version 15 or earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the authentication mechanism of industrial control systems used in wind farm operations, creating a significant security risk for critical infrastructure environments. The vulnerability resides within the login script's handling of user input, particularly the username parameter, which fails to properly sanitize or validate incoming data before processing.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers manipulate the username parameter during the login process to inject malicious web script or HTML content. This injection happens because the system does not implement adequate input validation or output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious code execution. When the vulnerable system processes the crafted username input, it inadvertently executes the injected script within the context of other users' browsers who subsequently access the application. This flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where improper validation of input allows malicious scripts to be executed in user browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond typical web application security concerns due to the industrial control environment where these devices operate. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to wind farm operational data, manipulate control system interfaces, or establish persistent access points within critical infrastructure networks. The implications are particularly severe for wind farm operations where system integrity and availability are paramount for energy production and grid stability. The vulnerability could enable attackers to compromise the entire control system by targeting the login mechanism that serves as the primary entry point for administrative access.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including initial access through credential access and execution via malicious code injection. The attack chain typically begins with reconnaissance to identify vulnerable NC2 devices, followed by exploitation of the XSS vulnerability to inject malicious scripts that can capture user credentials, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform other malicious activities within the browser context. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the devices, making it particularly dangerous for distributed industrial installations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates to versions that address the XSS flaw, implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and network segmentation to limit access to these critical systems. Organizations should also deploy web application firewalls to detect and prevent malicious script injection attempts, implement strict access controls for administrative interfaces, and conduct regular security assessments of industrial control systems. Additionally, security awareness training for operators should emphasize the importance of recognizing and reporting suspicious activities in control system interfaces. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for robust security practices in industrial control systems, as these environments often lack the security maturity of traditional enterprise networks and require specialized protection measures to address unique operational technology risks.