CVE-2017-5141 in XL Web II
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Honeywell XL Web II controller XL1000C500 XLWebExe-2-01-00 and prior, and XLWeb 500 XLWebExe-1-02-08 and prior. An attacker can establish a new user session, without invalidating any existing session identifier, which gives the opportunity to steal authenticated sessions (SESSION FIXATION).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5141 affects Honeywell XL Web II controllers, specifically versions XLWebExe-2-01-00 and prior, as well as XLWeb 500 XLWebExe-1-02-08 and prior. This issue represents a critical session management flaw that undermines the security of the authentication system. The vulnerability resides in how the web interface handles session identifiers, creating a scenario where an attacker can establish a new user session without properly invalidating existing session tokens. This fundamental flaw in session handling creates a pathway for unauthorized access and privilege escalation within industrial control systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper session management protocols within the Honeywell controller's web interface. When a user authenticates to the system, the application should invalidate the previous session identifier and generate a new unique token for the authenticated session. However, in affected versions, the system fails to properly invalidate existing session identifiers when creating new ones. This allows an attacker who has obtained a valid session identifier to reuse it after a successful authentication attempt, effectively enabling session fixation attacks. The flaw operates at the application layer and specifically impacts the web-based administrative interface of these industrial controllers.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to industrial control environments where Honeywell XL Web II controllers are deployed. The session fixation attack vector allows an attacker to hijack authenticated sessions, potentially gaining unauthorized access to critical industrial processes. In industrial settings, this could lead to unauthorized modifications of control parameters, disruption of operations, or even physical safety hazards. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects controllers used in critical infrastructure environments where security is paramount. Attackers could maintain persistent access to industrial systems through session reuse, making detection more difficult and potentially enabling long-term compromise of operational technology environments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-384, which specifically addresses session fixation issues in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 for initial access through credential manipulation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the Honeywell XL Web II controller software, implementing proper session management protocols, and conducting security assessments of industrial control systems. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual authentication patterns. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments of industrial control systems are essential to prevent exploitation of similar session management flaws in operational technology environments.