CVE-2014-7251 in FAST TOOLS
Summary
by MITRE
XML external entity (XXE) vulnerability in the WebHMI server in Yokogawa Electric Corporation FAST/TOOLS before R9.05-SP2 allows local users to cause a denial of service (CPU or network traffic consumption) or read arbitrary files via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2018
The CVE-2014-7251 vulnerability represents a critical XML external entity processing flaw within Yokogawa Electric Corporation's FAST/TOOLS WebHMI server software. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to R9.05-SP2 and resides in the web-based human machine interface server component that facilitates industrial automation and control system management. The flaw enables local attackers to exploit the XML parsing functionality in ways that can lead to significant operational disruptions and potential information disclosure. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-611 as an improper restriction of XML external entity reference, which directly relates to the unsafe processing of external entities in XML documents. This weakness allows attackers to manipulate how the application handles XML input, potentially leading to resource exhaustion or unauthorized data access through carefully crafted XML requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the WebHMI server's XML processing pipeline where it fails to properly validate or restrict external entity references in incoming XML data. When the server processes malformed XML containing external entity declarations, it may attempt to resolve these references, leading to excessive CPU utilization or network traffic consumption as it attempts to fetch remote resources. Additionally, the vulnerability can be exploited to read arbitrary files from the local filesystem through the improper handling of XML external entities that reference local file paths. The attack vectors remain unspecified in the CVE description, indicating that multiple pathways exist for exploitation, potentially including direct API calls, file upload mechanisms, or configuration file processing functions within the WebHMI server. This lack of specificity suggests the vulnerability may be present across various input channels that process XML data within the application's attack surface.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-7251 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially compromise the integrity and confidentiality of industrial control systems. Local attackers can consume excessive system resources through CPU or network traffic saturation, effectively rendering the WebHMI server unavailable to legitimate users and potentially affecting broader industrial operations. The arbitrary file reading capability poses additional security risks by potentially exposing sensitive configuration files, authentication credentials, or other confidential data stored within the application's local filesystem. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability and integrity aspects of the CIA triad, making it particularly dangerous in industrial environments where system reliability and data protection are paramount. The vulnerability affects systems that rely on Yokogawa's FAST/TOOLS platform for process control and monitoring, potentially compromising operational technology infrastructure that manages critical industrial processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7251 should prioritize immediate patch application to upgrade to Yokogawa FAST/TOOLS R9.05-SP2 or later versions where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement XML parser configuration changes to disable external entity processing entirely, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from information repositories. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit local user privileges and reduce the attack surface available to potential exploiters. Regular security assessments of industrial control system components should include XML processing validation to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. System monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual CPU or network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in industrial software and the need for regular security updates in operational technology environments, particularly as these systems increasingly connect to broader enterprise networks and face evolving cyber threat landscapes.