CVE-2018-10594 in Industrial Automation COMMGR
Summary
by MITRE
Delta Industrial Automation COMMGR from Delta Electronics versions 1.08 and prior with accompanying PLC Simulators (DVPSimulator EH2, EH3, ES2, SE, SS2 and AHSIM_5x0, AHSIM_5x1) utilize a fixed-length stack buffer where an unverified length value can be read from the network packets via a specific network port, causing the buffer to be overwritten. This may allow remote code execution, cause the application to crash, or result in a denial-of-service condition in the application server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10594 affects Delta Industrial Automation COMMGR software version 1.08 and earlier, along with associated PLC simulators including DVPSimulator EH2, EH3, ES2, SE, SS2, and AHSIM_5x0, AHSIM_5x1 models. This issue represents a classic buffer overflow vulnerability that stems from improper input validation within the network communication handling mechanisms of these industrial automation tools. The vulnerability exists in the software's packet processing logic where it reads length values from network packets without proper verification of their legitimacy or bounds, creating a critical security gap that can be exploited by remote attackers.
The technical flaw manifests through a fixed-length stack buffer implementation that fails to validate the length parameter extracted from incoming network packets. When network traffic is received on the designated communication port, the application reads a length value that determines how much data to process and store in a predetermined stack buffer. This unvalidated length value can exceed the buffer's allocated size, leading to memory corruption that allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which is a well-documented weakness in software development practices and represents a significant risk in industrial control systems where reliability and security are paramount.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial-of-service conditions to potentially enable complete remote code execution within the affected application server environment. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to the system, potentially leading to unauthorized control of industrial processes, data manipulation, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects industrial automation environments where these tools are deployed, creating risks for critical infrastructure sectors including manufacturing, energy, and process control systems. The nature of industrial control systems means that exploitation could lead to physical damage, safety hazards, and significant operational disruptions that extend far beyond traditional cybersecurity concerns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the affected software to version 1.09 or later, which contains the necessary buffer validation fixes. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the affected ports to trusted networks only, following the principle of least privilege as recommended by the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Additionally, implementing network monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts by monitoring for unusual packet patterns or size variations that might indicate buffer overflow attacks. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their industrial control system environments to identify other potentially affected systems and ensure proper network architecture design that isolates critical industrial processes from general network access. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1203 technique for legitimate credentials and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, highlighting the potential for lateral movement and remote code execution once initial access is achieved.