CVE-2016-4523 in VTScada
Summary
by MITRE
The WAP interface in Trihedral VTScada (formerly VTS) 8.x through 11.x before 11.2.02 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read and application crash) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4523 affects the Wireless Application Protocol WAP interface within Trihedral VTScada software versions 8.x through 11.x prior to 11.2.02. This represents a critical security flaw that exposes the industrial control system to remote exploitation. The affected software, formerly known as VTS, is widely deployed in industrial environments for supervisory control and data acquisition systems, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for operational technology infrastructure. The WAP interface serves as a communication channel for remote access and monitoring capabilities, which are essential for modern industrial operations but also create attack surfaces that malicious actors can exploit.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition that leads to application crash and subsequent denial of service. An attacker can exploit unspecified vectors within the WAP interface to trigger memory access violations that cause the application to terminate unexpectedly. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and can be classified as a CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read according to the Common Weakness Enumeration standard. The out-of-bounds read occurs when the application attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially allowing attackers to either crash the service or potentially execute arbitrary code depending on the specific implementation details.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can severely compromise industrial control system availability and reliability. In industrial environments where VTScada is deployed for critical infrastructure monitoring, a denial of service attack can result in complete loss of remote access capabilities, preventing operators from monitoring or controlling industrial processes. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where remote access is essential for maintenance operations, system monitoring, and emergency response procedures. The attack surface is amplified by the fact that the WAP interface is designed to provide remote access, making it accessible over network connections that may not be adequately protected in industrial settings.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4523 should focus on immediate software updates to version 11.2.02 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to isolate industrial control systems from general network access, reducing the attack surface available to remote attackers. Additional defensive measures include monitoring network traffic for suspicious WAP interface activity, implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify exploitation attempts, and establishing robust network access controls. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving remote service exploitation and denial of service attacks, making it important for security teams to understand the broader attack patterns that may be associated with such vulnerabilities in industrial control environments.