CVE-2015-1009 in InduSoft Web Studio
Summary
by MITRE
Schneider Electric InduSoft Web Studio before 7.1.3.5 Patch 5 and Wonderware InTouch Machine Edition through 7.1 SP3 Patch 4 use cleartext for project-window password storage, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading a file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1009 represents a critical security flaw in industrial automation software products from Schneider Electric and Wonderware. This issue affects InduSoft Web Studio versions prior to 7.1.3.5 Patch 5 and Wonderware InTouch Machine Edition through 7.1 SP3 Patch 4, where the software stores project window passwords in cleartext format within configuration files. The vulnerability stems from poor cryptographic practices and inadequate security measures in password handling mechanisms, creating a significant exposure point for unauthorized access to industrial control systems. According to CWE-312, this represents a cleartext storage of sensitive data vulnerability, which directly violates fundamental security principles for protecting authentication credentials. The flaw allows local attackers with file system access to directly read password-protected project files and extract sensitive authentication information without requiring additional exploitation techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the software's configuration file storage mechanism where project window passwords are saved in an unencrypted format rather than being properly hashed or encrypted. This cleartext storage approach means that any user with access to the system's file system can simply open the configuration files and read the passwords directly. The operational impact is severe for industrial environments where these products are commonly deployed, as it provides attackers with direct access to protected project windows that may contain sensitive operational parameters, control logic, or access credentials for critical infrastructure components. The vulnerability essentially eliminates any protection provided by password authentication mechanisms, rendering them ineffective against local attackers who can trivially obtain the stored credentials. This flaw directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for "Unsecured Credentials" and T1078.004 for "Valid Accounts" as it enables unauthorized access through the exploitation of stored credentials.
The security implications extend beyond simple credential theft, as these industrial automation tools often control critical manufacturing processes, production systems, and operational technology environments. When attackers can obtain project window passwords, they gain access to potentially sensitive operational information that could be used for further exploitation, including understanding system architecture, identifying control parameters, or planning more sophisticated attacks against the industrial control systems. The vulnerability affects organizations running these specific versions of automation software, particularly those in manufacturing, process control, and industrial automation sectors where the software is deployed for operational technology environments. The lack of encryption or hashing for password storage represents a fundamental security failure that violates established security practices and industry standards for protecting sensitive authentication information in industrial control systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of the software, implementing strict access controls to prevent unauthorized file system access, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of their industrial control environments. The recommended remediation involves applying the vendor-provided patches that address the cleartext password storage issue by implementing proper cryptographic techniques for password handling. Additionally, system administrators should review and implement least privilege access controls to limit file system access to authorized personnel only, as well as consider implementing additional monitoring and detection measures to identify potential unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper credential management in industrial environments and demonstrates the critical need for vendors to implement secure password storage mechanisms in industrial automation software to prevent unauthorized access to operational systems.