CVE-2017-14031 in Trihedral
Summary
by MITRE
An Improper Access Control issue was discovered in Trihedral VTScada 11.3.03 and prior. A local, non-administrator user has privileges to read and write to the file system of the target machine.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical improper access control flaw in Trihedral VTScada versions 11.3.03 and earlier, where local non-administrator users can escalate their privileges to gain read and write access to the target machine's file system. The issue stems from insufficient authorization checks within the application's permission model, allowing unauthorized users to bypass normal security boundaries that should restrict file system operations to administrator-level accounts only. This fundamental breakdown in access control mechanisms creates a significant attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors with local system access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control where an actor can perform operations beyond their authorized privileges. The flaw exists at the application level where the software fails to properly validate user credentials and permissions before granting file system access. This allows a local user to execute operations that should be restricted to privileged accounts, potentially enabling them to modify critical system files, install malicious software, or access sensitive data that would normally be protected from non-administrative users. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic privilege escalation scenario where insufficient access control checks create an opening for unauthorized file system manipulation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability significantly impacts the security posture of systems running affected VTScada versions, particularly in industrial control environments where operational technology security is paramount. Local attackers can leverage this weakness to gain persistent access to the system, potentially leading to more severe consequences such as data corruption, system compromise, or disruption of critical operations. The impact is particularly concerning in environments where VTScada is used for industrial process control, as unauthorized access to the file system could enable attackers to modify control parameters or access sensitive operational data. This vulnerability can be exploited without requiring network connectivity, making it particularly dangerous in air-gapped or isolated industrial environments.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of Trihedral VTScada where the access control issue has been resolved, applying the vendor's security patches, and implementing additional security controls such as user account management and privilege separation. System administrators should review and restrict local user accounts to only the minimum necessary privileges required for their operational tasks. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other industrial control systems. This vulnerability underscores the importance of proper access control implementation in industrial automation systems and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation tactics used by adversaries in operational technology environments.