CVE-2017-14011 in MultiFLEX M10a Controller
Summary
by MITRE
A Cross-Site Request Forgery issue was discovered in ProMinent MultiFLEX M10a Controller web interface. The application does not sufficiently verify requests, making it susceptible to cross-site request forgery. This may allow an attacker to execute unauthorized code, resulting in changes to the configuration of the device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2019
The CVE-2017-14011 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery weakness in the ProMinent MultiFLEX M10a Controller web interface, classified under CWE-352. This device operates within industrial control systems and water treatment environments where unauthorized configuration changes can have severe operational consequences. The vulnerability stems from insufficient request verification mechanisms within the web application layer, specifically failing to implement proper anti-CSRF token validation. The controller's web interface lacks adequate protection against malicious actors who could exploit this weakness through crafted HTTP requests that would be automatically executed by authenticated users.
The technical flaw manifests when legitimate users interact with the vulnerable web interface without proper CSRF protection mechanisms. Attackers can leverage this by constructing malicious web pages or emails that, when visited by an authenticated user, automatically submit requests to the controller's administrative functions. This allows unauthorized modifications to device configuration parameters, potentially including changes to operational settings, access controls, or system parameters that govern critical industrial processes. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically affects the web-based management interface, making it accessible through standard HTTP/HTTPS protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can lead to complete compromise of the industrial control system. Configuration changes could result in system instability, process failures, or even safety hazards in water treatment environments where the MultiFLEX M10a controller manages critical operations. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1072 for application deployment, where attackers can manipulate system settings through compromised web interfaces. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain persistent access to the industrial environment, potentially leading to broader network infiltration or operational disruption.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper CSRF token validation mechanisms within the web application, following OWASP recommendations for CSRF protection. Organizations should ensure that all state-changing requests require unique, unpredictable tokens that are validated server-side before processing. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of industrial control interfaces to untrusted networks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in industrial control systems. Additionally, implementing network monitoring and anomaly detection can help identify unauthorized configuration changes that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of applying standard web security practices to industrial control systems, as these environments often lack the security rigor typically found in enterprise applications.