CVE-2017-14023 in SIMATIC PCS 7
Summary
by MITRE
An Improper Input Validation issue was discovered in Siemens SIMATIC PCS 7 V8.1 prior to V8.1 SP1 with WinCC V7.3 Upd 13, and V8.2 all versions. The improper input validation vulnerability has been identified, which may allow an authenticated remote attacker who is a member of the administrators group to crash services by sending specially crafted messages to the DCOM interface.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14023 represents a critical improper input validation flaw within Siemens SIMATIC PCS 7 V8.1 systems prior to SP1 and V8.2 versions, alongside WinCC V7.3 Upd 13. This issue affects industrial control systems that rely on distributed component object model interfaces for communication and service management. The flaw exists in the DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model) interface implementation, which serves as a crucial communication pathway for system administration and monitoring functions within these industrial automation environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of input parameters received through the DCOM interface. An authenticated attacker who has administrative privileges can craft and send specially designed messages that trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions within the target system processes. This improper input validation allows for arbitrary code execution or service disruption, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability specifically targets the DCOM communication layer that enables remote administration and monitoring capabilities, making it particularly dangerous in industrial settings where system availability is paramount.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential industrial control system compromise. In industrial environments, where Siemens SIMATIC PCS 7 systems manage critical processes, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to crash essential services, potentially leading to production halts or safety system failures. The authenticated nature of the attack means that attackers must first gain administrative credentials, but once obtained, they can leverage this vulnerability to cause significant operational damage. This flaw particularly affects environments where remote administration is enabled and where the DCOM interface remains accessible to potentially malicious actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14023 should prioritize immediate deployment of available patches from Siemens, specifically targeting the mentioned versions and service packs. Organizations should implement network segmentation to restrict access to DCOM interfaces, limiting administrative access to trusted networks and implementing strict access controls. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20: Improper Input Validation, which is categorized under the broader weakness of inadequate input validation in software systems. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution, as well as T1489 for network disruption, making it a significant concern for industrial cybersecurity frameworks. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous DCOM traffic patterns, and regular security assessments should be conducted to ensure that all industrial control system components remain patched and secure against similar input validation vulnerabilities.