CVE-2017-6016 in LAquis SCADA
Summary
by MITRE
An Improper Access Control issue was discovered in LCDS - Leao Consultoria e Desenvolvimento de Sistemas LTDA ME LAquis SCADA. The following versions are affected: Versions 4.1 and prior versions released before January 20, 2017. An Improper Access Control vulnerability has been identified, which may allow an authenticated user to modify application files to escalate privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6016 represents a critical improper access control flaw within the LAquis SCADA software developed by Leao Consultoria e Desenvolvimento de Sistemas LTDA ME. This issue affects versions 4.1 and earlier releases prior to January 20, 2017, creating a significant security weakness that undermines the integrity and confidentiality of industrial control systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient authorization checks that allow authenticated users to manipulate application files, potentially enabling privilege escalation attacks that could compromise entire industrial networks.
The technical implementation of this flaw demonstrates a failure in proper access control mechanisms, specifically categorized under CWE-284 which addresses improper access control vulnerabilities. The vulnerability allows an authenticated user who has already gained access to the system to exploit weak file permission controls and modify critical application components. This weakness enables attackers to elevate their privileges from standard user level to administrative access, bypassing the intended security boundaries that should protect sensitive system files and configuration data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to industrial environments that rely on SCADA systems for critical infrastructure management. The ability to modify application files means that an attacker could potentially inject malicious code, alter system configurations, or disable security features within the SCADA environment. This represents a significant threat to operational technology infrastructure, as the compromised system could lead to unauthorized control of industrial processes, data manipulation, or complete system compromise that could affect safety-critical operations.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential disruption of industrial operations and compromise of security controls designed to protect critical infrastructure. Organizations utilizing affected LAquis SCADA versions face substantial risk of unauthorized access to control systems, which could result in operational disruptions, safety hazards, or data breaches. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and represents a common attack vector in industrial control system environments where proper access controls are essential for maintaining operational security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6016 should prioritize immediate software updates to versions that address the improper access control flaw, along with comprehensive security assessments of affected systems. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to SCADA environments, enforce strict access control policies, and conduct regular security audits to identify potential unauthorized modifications. Additionally, monitoring for unusual file access patterns and implementing robust change management procedures can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing proper access control mechanisms in industrial environments where system integrity directly impacts operational safety and security.