CVE-2017-6869 in ViewPort for Web Office Portal
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability was discovered in Siemens ViewPort for Web Office Portal before revision number 1453 that could allow an unauthenticated remote user to upload arbitrary code and execute it with the permissions of the operating-system user running the web server by sending specially crafted network packets to port 443/TCP or port 80/TCP.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6869 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within Siemens ViewPort for Web Office Portal software. This vulnerability affects versions prior to revision 1453 and demonstrates a fundamental security weakness in the web application's file upload handling mechanisms. The flaw exists in the application's web server component that processes incoming network requests on standard HTTP and HTTPS ports, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from any location without requiring authentication credentials. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of file upload requests, allowing malicious actors to bypass security controls that should prevent execution of arbitrary code within the target system's web server environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted network packets sent to the vulnerable web server on either port 443/tcp or port 80/tcp, which are standard ports for HTTPS and HTTP communications respectively. When the web server receives these specially constructed packets, it fails to properly validate the uploaded files, permitting malicious code to be stored on the server and subsequently executed with the privileges of the operating system user running the web server process. This privilege escalation aspect is particularly concerning as the web server typically runs with elevated permissions to serve content and manage system resources, potentially allowing attackers to gain full control over the affected system. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-434 which describes the weakness of unrestricted file upload, and represents a classic example of how insecure file handling can lead to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with persistent remote control over affected systems. Once successfully exploited, an attacker can execute arbitrary commands on the target server, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system enumeration, lateral movement within the network, and establishment of backdoors for continued access. The unauthenticated nature of the exploit means that any individual on the internet can attempt to compromise systems without requiring prior access credentials, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to automated attack tools. Organizations running affected Siemens ViewPort versions face significant risk of unauthorized system compromise, especially if these systems are accessible from the internet or are part of critical infrastructure environments where such vulnerabilities can have severe operational and safety implications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6869 should focus on immediate remediation through software updates to revision 1453 or later, which addresses the underlying file upload validation issues. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit direct internet access to affected systems, deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious upload requests, and conduct thorough network monitoring for anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, system administrators should review and restrict file upload capabilities within the application, implement strict file type validation, and ensure that web server processes run with minimal necessary privileges to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and proper input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security controls, particularly those addressing secure file handling and privilege management.