CVE-2017-6045 in VTScada
Summary
by MITRE
An Information Exposure issue was discovered in Trihedral VTScada Versions prior to 11.2.26. Some files are exposed within the web server application to unauthenticated users. These files may contain sensitive configuration information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6045 represents a critical information exposure flaw within Trihedral VTScada software versions prior to 11.2.26. This issue stems from improper access controls within the web server application component of the industrial control system, creating a significant security risk for operational technology environments. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to access sensitive configuration files through the web interface, potentially exposing critical system information that could be leveraged for further exploitation.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the web server's inadequate authorization mechanisms that fail to properly restrict access to sensitive files within the application directory structure. According to CWE-200, this constitutes a weakness where information is disclosed to unauthorized actors, specifically through improper access control implementation. The flaw manifests when the web server serves configuration files without requiring authentication, allowing any remote user to retrieve potentially sensitive data through simple HTTP requests. This type of information exposure directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and defense in depth.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6045 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed configuration files may contain database connection strings, user credentials, system parameters, and other sensitive operational data. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to gain insights into the system architecture, network topology, and internal configuration details that would otherwise remain protected. This reconnaissance capability significantly increases the risk of subsequent attacks, as the exposed information could be used to plan more sophisticated exploitation attempts or identify additional vulnerabilities within the industrial control environment. The vulnerability particularly affects operational technology environments where VTScada is deployed for process control and monitoring, making it a significant concern for critical infrastructure sectors.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Trihedral VTScada version 11.2.26 or later, which contains the necessary access control fixes. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the web server ports, limiting exposure to trusted networks only. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar information exposure vulnerabilities within the industrial control system environment. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing for Information) techniques, as attackers could use the exposed information to conduct more targeted and effective reconnaissance activities against the affected systems.