CVE-2014-5413 in SCADA Expert ClearSCADA
Summary
by MITRE
Schneider Electric StruxureWare SCADA Expert ClearSCADA 2010 R3 through 2014 R1 uses the MD5 algorithm for an X.509 certificate, which makes it easier for remote attackers to spoof servers via a cryptographic attack against this algorithm.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5413 affects Schneider Electric StruxureWare SCADA Expert ClearSCADA versions ranging from 2010 R3 through 2014 R1, representing a significant cryptographic weakness that undermines the security of industrial control systems. This flaw resides in the certificate management implementation where the system relies on the MD5 hashing algorithm for X.509 certificate generation, creating a substantial attack surface that adversaries can exploit to compromise system integrity. The use of MD5 in certificate contexts violates fundamental security principles and represents a critical design flaw in the cryptographic framework of these industrial automation platforms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the inherent weaknesses within the MD5 algorithm itself, which has been extensively demonstrated to be vulnerable to collision attacks since the early 2000s. Attackers can leverage these cryptographic weaknesses to generate fraudulent certificates that appear legitimate to the ClearSCADA system, enabling man-in-the-middle attacks and server impersonation without requiring the private key of the legitimate certificate authority. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-327, which specifically addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for unsecured credentials and T1071.004 for application layer protocol. The MD5 algorithm's susceptibility to collision attacks allows threat actors to create certificate files that hash to identical values, effectively bypassing the certificate validation mechanisms designed to ensure secure communication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple authentication bypass, as it compromises the fundamental trust model of industrial control systems that rely on digital certificates for secure communication between field devices, controllers, and supervisory interfaces. In SCADA environments, this weakness can enable attackers to inject malicious commands, manipulate process data, or gain unauthorized access to critical infrastructure components. The implications are particularly severe given that ClearSCADA systems are commonly deployed in critical infrastructure sectors including power generation, water treatment, and manufacturing facilities where system integrity is paramount. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to establish false trust relationships with the SCADA system, potentially leading to operational disruption, safety hazards, or even physical damage to industrial processes.
Organizations utilizing affected ClearSCADA versions should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions that utilize stronger hashing algorithms such as SHA-256 or SHA-3 for certificate generation. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect anomalous certificate validation behaviors, while certificate pinning mechanisms can provide additional defense-in-depth. The remediation process must also include comprehensive certificate lifecycle management reviews to ensure all certificates are properly validated and that legacy systems using MD5 are identified and upgraded. Security teams should consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for certificate-related anomalies and establish incident response procedures that address potential certificate forgery scenarios. This vulnerability serves as a stark reminder of the importance of cryptographic algorithm selection in industrial security systems and the critical need for regular security assessments of operational technology infrastructure.