CVE-2015-1008 in AMS Device Manager
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Emerson AMS Device Manager before 13 allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges via malformed input.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2019
The CVE-2015-1008 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within Emerson AMS Device Manager software versions prior to 13. This vulnerability specifically affects industrial automation and control systems where device management and monitoring capabilities are essential for operational continuity. The flaw enables remote authenticated attackers to exploit the system through carefully crafted malformed input, potentially leading to unauthorized privilege escalation and system compromise. The vulnerability exists in the input validation mechanisms of the device manager application, where user-supplied data is not adequately sanitized before being processed in database queries. This weakness allows malicious actors who have already established authentication credentials to manipulate the underlying database operations and potentially elevate their privileges within the system. The attack vector requires that the attacker possess valid authentication credentials, making this a privilege escalation vulnerability rather than a purely remote code execution flaw, though it still presents significant operational security risks in industrial environments. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in operational technology contexts where system integrity and security are paramount for maintaining safe and reliable industrial operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input sanitization and parameter handling within the application's database interaction layers. When authenticated users submit data through various input fields within the AMS Device Manager interface, the application fails to properly validate or escape special characters that could alter the intended sql query structure. This lack of proper input filtering creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious sql commands that can manipulate database operations, potentially extracting sensitive information, modifying system configurations, or escalating privileges. The vulnerability is classified as a classic sql injection attack pattern where the attacker leverages the application's trust in user input to bypass normal security controls. The flaw typically manifests when the application uses dynamic sql construction without proper parameterization or input validation, allowing attackers to inject sql syntax that alters the intended execution flow of database queries. This weakness aligns with common weakness enumeration cwes such as cwe-89 sql injection and cwe-20 improper input validation, both of which are fundamental security concerns in application development and particularly critical in industrial control systems where system reliability is essential.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1008 extends beyond simple data compromise to potentially disrupt critical industrial processes and operations. In industrial environments where Emerson AMS Device Manager is deployed for monitoring and managing critical infrastructure, an attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to sensitive operational data, modify device configurations, or escalate privileges to administrative levels. This could result in unauthorized control of industrial processes, data integrity violations, or disruption of critical manufacturing operations. The vulnerability's requirement for authenticated access means that attackers must first compromise legitimate user credentials through other attack vectors such as credential theft, phishing, or social engineering, but once achieved, the privilege escalation capability could provide extensive access to system resources. The impact is particularly severe in environments where the device manager interfaces with critical control systems, as the attacker could potentially manipulate device settings, access confidential operational data, or cause system instability that affects production continuity and safety protocols. Organizations using this software in industrial control systems must consider the cascading effects of such a vulnerability on overall operational security and business continuity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1008 focus primarily on updating to Emerson AMS Device Manager version 13 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the sql injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure timely deployment of security updates, particularly in industrial environments where system uptime and security are critical. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to the device manager systems, enforcing strict access controls and authentication mechanisms, and monitoring for suspicious database access patterns or unusual user behavior. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and secure coding practices in industrial control systems, aligning with attack technique patterns found in the mitre att&ck framework under techniques such as credential access and privilege escalation. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing of their industrial control systems to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Proper security awareness training for system administrators and operators can help prevent initial credential compromise through social engineering attacks that might lead to exploitation of this vulnerability.