CVE-2018-10620 in InduSoft Web Studio
Summary
by MITRE
AVEVA InduSoft Web Studio v8.1 and v8.1SP1, and InTouch Machine Edition v2017 8.1 and v2017 8.1 SP1 a remote user could send a carefully crafted packet to exploit a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability during tag, alarm, or event related actions such as read and write, with potential for code to be executed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10620 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw affecting AVEVA InduSoft Web Studio versions 8.1 and 8.1SP1, as well as InTouch Machine Edition versions 2017 8.1 and 2017 8.1 SP1. This vulnerability resides within the industrial automation software platforms that are extensively deployed in critical infrastructure environments including manufacturing plants, oil and gas facilities, and other operational technology systems where reliability and security are paramount. The flaw manifests during normal tag, alarm, or event related operations such as read and write actions, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through routine system interactions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the software's handling of network packets destined for tag, alarm, or event processing functions. When a remote attacker crafts and transmits a malicious packet containing oversized data payloads, the software fails to properly bounds-check the incoming data before copying it into fixed-size stack buffers. This fundamental flaw allows the attacker to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations, potentially corrupting program execution flow and enabling arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability specifically affects the software's communication protocols that handle industrial data exchange, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise operational technology environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond typical cybersecurity concerns given the industrial control systems context where these applications operate. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain full control over the affected systems, potentially leading to production disruptions, data manipulation, or even physical safety hazards in industrial environments. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the systems, making the vulnerability particularly attractive for nation-state actors or sophisticated cybercriminal organizations targeting critical infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a high-severity weakness in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that these industrial automation platforms often operate in isolated networks, making traditional network security measures less effective against such targeted attacks.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including applying available vendor patches and updates, implementing network segmentation to isolate critical systems, and deploying intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for suspicious network traffic patterns associated with this vulnerability. Additionally, conducting thorough vulnerability assessments of industrial control systems, implementing robust access controls, and establishing incident response procedures specifically tailored for operational technology environments are essential steps. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for security awareness in industrial environments where the traditional cybersecurity paradigms may not adequately protect against specialized attacks targeting operational technology systems, emphasizing the importance of defense-in-depth strategies that consider both IT and OT security requirements.