CVE-2015-6485 in Telvent Sage
Summary
by MITRE
Schneider Electric Telvent Sage 2300 RTUs with firmware before C3413-500-S01, and LANDAC II-2, Sage 1410, Sage 1430, Sage 1450, Sage 2400, and Sage 3030M RTUs with firmware before C3414-500-S02J2, allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from device memory by reading a padding field of an Ethernet packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6485 affects Schneider Electric Telvent Sage series Remote Terminal Units operating with specific firmware versions. These industrial control devices are critical components in energy management and automation systems, particularly in power distribution networks where they monitor and control electrical infrastructure. The affected RTUs include models such as the Sage 2300, LANDAC II-2, Sage 1410, Sage 1430, Sage 1450, Sage 2400, and Sage 3030M, each serving distinct roles in industrial automation environments. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of Ethernet packet structures where sensitive information remains accessible in memory padding fields that are not properly sanitized during packet processing.
This security flaw represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that operates at the network protocol level, specifically within the Ethernet frame structure. The technical implementation flaw occurs when the RTU firmware processes incoming Ethernet packets without adequately clearing or masking memory padding areas that contain residual data from previous operations. These padding fields, which are typically unused portions of packet structures, can retain fragments of previous communications, system states, or configuration data. Attackers can exploit this by crafting specific Ethernet packets that trigger the device to respond with these memory contents, effectively leaking sensitive information directly from the device's operational memory.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can provide attackers with critical system intelligence that may enable more sophisticated attacks. The leaked memory contents could include configuration parameters, network credentials, system identifiers, or other sensitive operational data that would typically remain protected within the device's secure memory space. This information disclosure creates opportunities for attackers to gain insights into the industrial control system architecture, potentially enabling them to identify other vulnerabilities or plan targeted attacks against the broader network infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from external networks without requiring physical access or direct system interaction.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the information gathering phase. The vulnerability specifically relates to T1082, which covers system information discovery, and T1552, which covers credentials theft and acquisition. Organizations operating these devices should implement immediate firmware updates to address the vulnerability, as the affected firmware versions represent a significant security risk in industrial environments where system integrity and confidentiality are paramount. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit potential exploitation, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining secure firmware versions in industrial control systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security assessments of operational technology environments.