CVE-2016-3155 in APOGEE Insight
Summary
by MITRE
Siemens APOGEE Insight uses weak permissions for the application folder, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information or modify data via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3155 affects Siemens APOGEE Insight, a sophisticated industrial monitoring and control system designed for critical infrastructure environments. This security flaw resides within the application's file system permissions model, specifically targeting the application folder where sensitive operational data and configuration files are stored. The weakness manifests as inadequate access controls that fail to properly restrict file system permissions, creating a pathway for unauthorized local system access that could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of industrial processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to enforce proper discretionary access controls on its installation directory structure. When Siemens APOGEE Insight is deployed, the application folder permissions are not configured with appropriate security measures that would normally be expected in industrial control systems. This misconfiguration allows local users with minimal privileges to traverse the application directory structure and potentially access sensitive configuration files, operational parameters, or data repositories that should remain protected. The unspecified vectors referenced in the description suggest that multiple attack paths exist within the application's file system hierarchy, making the vulnerability particularly concerning as it could be exploited through various means including direct file system access, process injection, or privilege escalation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential data modification capabilities that could severely compromise industrial control systems. Local attackers with access to the system could potentially alter critical operational parameters, modify configuration settings, or manipulate data used for process control and monitoring. This represents a significant threat to industrial cybersecurity frameworks, as the ability to modify operational data could lead to process disruptions, safety hazards, or even physical damage to industrial assets. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where Siemens APOGEE Insight operates in critical infrastructure sectors such as power generation, water treatment, or manufacturing facilities where process integrity is paramount. From a cybersecurity perspective, this weakness creates an entry point that aligns with attack patterns described in the attack tree framework, where initial access through weak permissions can escalate to more severe operational impacts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-3155 require immediate implementation of proper file system access controls and privilege management within the affected systems. Organizations should ensure that application folders are configured with restrictive permissions that align with the principle of least privilege, limiting access to only authorized system administrators and processes. This remediation approach corresponds to CWE-276, which addresses improper file permissions, and aligns with defensive techniques outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and persistence tactics. System administrators should conduct comprehensive permission audits of all application directories, implement mandatory access controls where appropriate, and establish regular monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation strategies to limit local access to critical industrial control systems and deploy intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious file access patterns within industrial environments. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper security configuration management in industrial control systems and highlights the need for regular security assessments that examine file system permissions and access control mechanisms in operational technology environments.