CVE-2016-1488 in OZW OZW672
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the login form in the integrated web server on Siemens OZW OZW672 devices before 6.00 and OZW772 devices before 6.00 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1488 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the integrated web server of Siemens OZW series devices including the OZW672 and OZW772 models. This vulnerability exists in the login form functionality of the embedded web server component, which serves as the primary interface for device administration and configuration. The flaw affects firmware versions prior to 6.00, making a significant portion of deployed devices susceptible to exploitation. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a classic cross-site scripting weakness, where the web application fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in the browser context.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URL parameters during the authentication process. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing embedded script code that gets executed when the login form is processed by the web server. This occurs because the device's integrated web server does not adequately validate or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into the HTML response sent to the browser. The vulnerability specifically targets the login form's handling of URL parameters, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML content that executes in the context of authenticated sessions. This represents a direct violation of secure input validation principles and demonstrates inadequate output encoding practices in the web server implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to establish persistent malicious presence on affected devices. An attacker could potentially execute malicious scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or modify device behavior. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the login form, which means that successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to device administration interfaces, potentially enabling complete device compromise. The threat landscape for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential harvesting through phishing attacks, as the XSS could be used to capture authentication credentials or manipulate the login process itself.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates to versions 6.00 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the input validation flaws in the web server component. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks, while also monitoring for suspicious URL patterns in web server logs. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts provides an additional layer of defense. Security teams should also conduct thorough network reconnaissance to identify all affected devices and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from arising in the future. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in embedded web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of all web server components within industrial control systems.