CVE-2016-9156 in SICAM PAS
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Siemens SICAM PAS (all versions including V8.08) could allow a remote attacker to upload, download, or delete files in certain parts of the file system by sending specially crafted packets to port 19235/TCP.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9156 represents a critical security flaw in Siemens SICAM PAS software across all versions including V8.08. This issue manifests as a remote code execution vulnerability that enables unauthorized actors to perform file system operations on targeted industrial control systems. The vulnerability specifically affects the communication protocol implementation within the SICAM PAS platform, which is widely deployed in industrial environments for process automation and monitoring. The affected system operates on TCP port 19235, making it susceptible to exploitation through network-based attacks that require no authentication or prior access to the system. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient access controls within the application's file handling mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of specially crafted network packets transmitted to the designated TCP port 19235. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute unauthorized file operations including uploading malicious payloads, downloading sensitive system files, or deleting critical components from the file system. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the software's security architecture. The vulnerability falls under CWE-22 which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks. The affected system architecture lacks proper sanitization of user-supplied data before processing file operations, creating an avenue for attackers to manipulate the intended file paths and gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access and represents a significant threat to industrial control system security. Organizations utilizing Siemens SICAM PAS systems face potential disruptions to their process automation workflows, data integrity compromises, and possible physical system damage through malicious file manipulation. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the network without requiring physical access to the industrial control infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers scripting through command-line interfaces and T1078.004 which addresses valid accounts usage for persistence. The attack surface is particularly concerning in industrial environments where system availability and integrity are paramount for operational safety and security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-9156 should prioritize immediate network segmentation and access control implementation to restrict communication to port 19235. Organizations must implement network access control lists to prevent unauthorized access to the affected port and consider disabling the service entirely if it is not required for operations. The software vendors should be consulted for official patches and updates to address the underlying input validation flaws. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other industrial control system components. The implementation of network monitoring solutions to detect unusual traffic patterns on port 19235 can provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should establish robust incident response procedures specifically designed for industrial control system security incidents to ensure rapid response to any exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in industrial software development, particularly when dealing with network-based file operations.