CVE-2014-9196 in Power Systems ProView
Summary
by MITRE
Eaton Cooper Power Systems ProView 4.0 and 5.0 before 5.0 11 on Form 6 controls and Idea and IdeaPLUS relays generates TCP initial sequence number (ISN) values linearly, which makes it easier for remote attackers to spoof TCP sessions by predicting an ISN value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9196 affects Eaton Cooper Power Systems ProView 4.0 and 5.0 versions prior to 5.0 11 on Form 6 controls and Idea and IdeaPLUS relays. This weakness represents a significant security flaw in the network communication protocols of industrial control systems that are widely deployed in power management and automation environments. The issue stems from the predictable nature of TCP initial sequence number generation, which fundamentally undermines the security of network communications between these devices and their management interfaces. Such vulnerabilities are particularly concerning in industrial control systems where network security is paramount for operational continuity and safety.
The technical flaw manifests in the deterministic generation of TCP initial sequence numbers using linear progression rather than cryptographically secure randomization. This predictable pattern allows remote attackers to calculate future ISN values through statistical analysis or simple observation of existing sequence numbers. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-330, which describes the use of insufficiently random values, and specifically relates to weak randomness in network protocols. The predictable ISN generation creates a pathway for attackers to perform TCP session hijacking attacks, where malicious actors can establish fraudulent connections to the affected devices by accurately predicting sequence numbers. This weakness enables unauthorized access to critical industrial control systems without requiring authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous for power management infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple network security concerns to potentially compromise the integrity and availability of power management systems. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to critical industrial control systems, potentially leading to service disruption, data manipulation, or even physical damage to power infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these devices are often deployed in environments where continuous operation is critical, such as data centers, manufacturing facilities, and utility operations. The vulnerability enables adversaries to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, session hijacking, and potentially gain elevated privileges within the control system environment. This weakness represents a fundamental flaw in the security architecture of these industrial devices, as it undermines the basic assumption that network communications are secure from remote attackers who can observe and predict sequence numbers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from system administrators and industrial security teams responsible for maintaining these critical systems. The primary remediation involves updating the affected devices to version 5.0 11 or later, which implements proper randomization of TCP sequence numbers. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks. Additional protective measures include monitoring network traffic for suspicious patterns, implementing intrusion detection systems, and establishing network access controls that restrict communication to authorized endpoints only. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which covers network service scanning and T1566 which covers credential harvesting through network attacks. Security professionals should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous sequence number patterns and alert administrators to potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in industrial control system environments.