CVE-2017-7971 in PowerSCADA Anywhere
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability exists in Schneider Electric's PowerSCADA Anywhere v1.0 redistributed with PowerSCADA Expert v8.1 and PowerSCADA Expert v8.2 and Citect Anywhere version 1.0 that allows the use of outdated cipher suites and improper verification of peer SSL Certificate.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7971 affects Schneider Electric's PowerSCADA Anywhere software components that are distributed with PowerSCADA Expert versions 8.1 and 8.2, as well as Citect Anywhere version 1.0. This represents a critical security weakness in industrial control systems that could potentially compromise the integrity and confidentiality of operational technology networks. The affected software is commonly deployed in critical infrastructure environments where secure communications between supervisory control and data acquisition systems are paramount for operational safety and security.
This vulnerability stems from the improper implementation of Secure Sockets Layer/TLS cryptographic protocols within the PowerSCADA Anywhere application. Specifically, the software utilizes outdated and weak cipher suites that are susceptible to various cryptographic attacks including man-in-the-middle and session hijacking attempts. The system also fails to properly validate peer SSL certificates, creating opportunities for attackers to establish fraudulent connections and potentially gain unauthorized access to industrial control systems. This flaw directly relates to CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms, and CWE-295, which covers improper certificate validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond traditional information technology concerns into the realm of industrial control systems security where the consequences of unauthorized access can be severe. Attackers exploiting this weakness could potentially intercept sensitive operational data, manipulate control commands, or establish persistent backdoors within critical infrastructure environments. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where PowerSCADA Expert and Citect Anywhere are deployed for remote monitoring and control of industrial processes, including power generation, water treatment, and manufacturing facilities. The use of outdated cipher suites creates a vector for cryptographic downgrade attacks that could compromise the entire communication channel between operators and industrial control systems.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the latest available versions of PowerSCADA Expert and Citect Anywhere that address this vulnerability, configuring the software to use strong cryptographic protocols and cipher suites, and implementing additional network security controls such as intrusion detection systems and network segmentation. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.001 for application layer protocol communication and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering, making comprehensive security monitoring essential. Security teams should also conduct thorough network assessments to identify any systems using the vulnerable software versions and ensure that proper certificate validation mechanisms are in place. The remediation process should include disabling weak cipher suites, implementing proper certificate pinning where appropriate, and establishing continuous monitoring for unauthorized access attempts that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.