CVE-2016-10224 in NovaWeb web HMI
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Sauter NovaWeb web HMI. The application uses a protection mechanism that relies on the existence or values of a cookie, but it does not properly ensure that the cookie is valid for the associated user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10224 resides within the Sauter NovaWeb web HMI application, a critical component in industrial automation environments where human machine interfaces manage complex operational systems. This flaw represents a significant security weakness in the application's authentication and authorization framework, specifically targeting the cookie-based protection mechanism that should safeguard user sessions and access controls. The affected system operates in industrial control environments where unauthorized access could lead to operational disruptions, safety hazards, or data compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in session management where the application's security model fails to properly validate session integrity, creating potential pathways for unauthorized users to gain access to restricted functionalities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of session cookies within the NovaWeb HMI application. The system employs a cookie-based authentication mechanism that relies on cookie existence and value checks to determine user authorization levels. However, the application lacks proper validation procedures to ensure that cookies are valid for the specific user context they claim to represent. This weakness allows attackers to potentially reuse, manipulate, or forge session cookies to impersonate legitimate users. The flaw essentially creates a session fixation or session hijacking vulnerability where the authentication mechanism fails to properly associate session tokens with authenticated user identities. The vulnerability manifests when the application accepts cookie values without sufficient verification that these tokens correspond to legitimate user sessions, potentially allowing privilege escalation or unauthorized access to industrial control functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond typical web application security concerns due to the industrial control environment in which the NovaWeb HMI operates. In industrial settings, unauthorized access to HMI systems can result in critical operational disruptions, safety system compromises, or even physical damage to industrial processes. The vulnerability could enable an attacker to gain access to sensitive operational controls, modify process parameters, or disrupt production workflows. The potential for cascading effects increases when considering that industrial HMI systems often interface with critical infrastructure components where unauthorized modifications could lead to hazardous conditions or significant financial losses. Organizations relying on Sauter NovaWeb systems face substantial risk of operational compromise, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, energy, or water treatment where process control integrity is paramount.
Security professionals should approach this vulnerability through the lens of CWE-384, which addresses session fixation issues in applications that rely on cookie-based authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.002, which covers privilege escalation through session hijacking or manipulation. Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigations including proper cookie validation mechanisms, session token regeneration upon authentication, and robust session management protocols that ensure cookie validity for specific user contexts. The remediation process requires updating the application to implement proper session validation checks that verify cookie integrity and user association before granting access privileges. Additionally, implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms and network segmentation controls can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation of this vulnerability. Security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous session behavior and unauthorized cookie access patterns to identify potential exploitation attempts.