CVE-2014-5436 in Experion PKS
Summary
by MITRE
A directory traversal vulnerability exists in the confd.exe module in Honeywell Experion PKS R40x before R400.6, R41x before R410.6, and R43x before R430.2, which could lead to possible information disclosure. Honeywell strongly encourages and recommends all customers running unsupported versions of EKPS prior to R400 to upgrade to a supported version.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2023
The CVE-2014-5436 vulnerability represents a critical directory traversal flaw within Honeywell Experion PKS R40x, R41x, and R43x systems, specifically affecting the confd.exe module. This vulnerability resides in industrial control systems designed for process automation and supervision, making it particularly concerning for operational technology environments. The flaw allows unauthorized access to sensitive system files and configuration data through improper input validation mechanisms that fail to adequately sanitize file path references. Such vulnerabilities are classified under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability impacts systems running unsupported versions of the Experion PKS software, creating a significant security gap that could be exploited by threat actors targeting industrial control systems.
The technical implementation of this directory traversal vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user-supplied input within the confd.exe module responsible for configuration management in Honeywell's Experion PKS platform. When the system processes file requests, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the input parameters that specify file paths, allowing attackers to manipulate these parameters using sequences such as "../" to navigate outside the intended directory structure. This flaw enables an attacker to traverse the file system hierarchy and access configuration files, system logs, and potentially sensitive operational data that should remain restricted. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely, making it particularly dangerous in network-connected industrial environments where such systems are often exposed to external networks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol and T1566 for malicious file execution, representing both network-based and file-based attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-5436 extends beyond simple information disclosure, potentially compromising the integrity and availability of industrial control systems. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could gain access to critical system configuration files that contain sensitive operational parameters, authentication credentials, and system architecture details. This information could be used to plan more sophisticated attacks against the industrial control infrastructure, potentially leading to system compromise, operational disruption, or even physical safety hazards in process control environments. The exposure of configuration data could reveal network topology, system vulnerabilities, and operational procedures that would otherwise remain confidential. Organizations running unsupported versions of Experion PKS face heightened risk as these legacy systems often lack proper security updates and patches, creating persistent attack surfaces that adversaries can exploit. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where industrial control systems are connected to enterprise networks, as the attack surface expands beyond isolated operational technology networks.
Honeywell's recommended mitigation strategy focuses on upgrading to supported versions of the Experion PKS software, specifically targeting releases R400.6, R410.6, and R430.2 or later. This upgrade approach addresses the root cause of the vulnerability by implementing proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the confd.exe module. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of these systems to untrusted networks, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1071 for application layer protocol usage. Additional defensive measures include implementing network monitoring to detect anomalous file access patterns and establishing robust patch management processes for industrial control systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current software versions in operational technology environments and underscores the need for comprehensive security assessments of industrial control systems to identify and remediate similar path traversal vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement principle of least privilege access controls and regularly audit system configurations to minimize potential impact from such vulnerabilities.