CVE-2018-11447 in M875
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability has been identified in SCALANCE M875 (All versions). The web interface on port 443/tcp could allow a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attack if an unsuspecting user is tricked into accessing a malicious link. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by an legitimate user, who must be authenticated to the web interface as administrative user. A successful attack could allow an attacker to interact with the web interface as an administrative user. This could allow the attacker to read or modify the device configuration, or to exploit other vulnerabilities that require authentication as administrative user. At the time of advisory publication no public exploitation of this security vulnerability was known.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2023
The SCALANCE M875 industrial network device presents a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that compromises the security of industrial control systems. This vulnerability exists within the device's web interface accessible via port 443/tcp, making it particularly dangerous in industrial environments where network security is paramount. The flaw represents a significant risk to operational technology infrastructure, as it allows attackers to manipulate device configurations through authenticated sessions. The vulnerability specifically targets administrative users who have legitimate access to the web interface, creating a scenario where social engineering attacks can escalate privileges and gain unauthorized control over critical network equipment. The device's web interface serves as the primary management entry point, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for industrial networks where unauthorized configuration changes can lead to operational disruptions or security breaches.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper request validation mechanisms within the web interface authentication flow. When an authenticated administrative user visits a malicious webpage containing crafted requests, the device processes these requests as legitimate commands without verifying their origin. This occurs because the web application fails to implement anti-forgery tokens or other validation measures that would normally prevent unauthorized requests from being executed on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, exploiting the trust relationship between the web interface and authenticated sessions. According to CWE-352, this represents a classic cross-site request forgery flaw where the application lacks sufficient protection against unauthorized commands executed through user sessions. The attack requires minimal technical expertise from threat actors, as it relies primarily on social engineering to trick users into visiting malicious links, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user awareness of cybersecurity threats may be limited.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration modifications to potentially compromise entire industrial control systems. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could alter network settings, modify security policies, or disable protective measures within the SCALANCE M875 device, creating opportunities for further attacks on the broader industrial network. The administrative privileges granted through successful exploitation provide attackers with extensive control over the device's operational parameters, including network configuration, user management, and system monitoring capabilities. This vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that could be leveraged to establish long-term access points within industrial networks, particularly in environments where these devices serve as critical network gateways or security appliances. The potential for cascading effects exists, as compromised device configurations could affect network communications, data integrity, or even physical process controls in connected industrial systems. The lack of known public exploitation at the time of advisory publication does not diminish the severity, as the vulnerability represents a latent threat that could be weaponized by threat actors with sufficient knowledge of industrial control systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from industrial network administrators and security teams. The primary recommendation involves implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of administrative interfaces to trusted networks only, reducing the attack surface available to potential attackers. Network administrators should consider disabling unnecessary web interface access and implementing strict firewall rules that limit access to port 443/tcp to specific authorized IP addresses. The implementation of multi-factor authentication and session management controls can provide additional protection layers against unauthorized access attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of SCALANCE M875 devices within their networks and ensure timely firmware updates are deployed. According to ATT&CK framework domain T1548.002, this vulnerability aligns with privilege escalation techniques that leverage web application flaws to gain administrative access. Organizations should also implement network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous access patterns or configuration changes that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security awareness training for personnel who manage industrial control systems can help reduce the risk of successful social engineering attacks targeting this vulnerability. The vulnerability's classification as a CSRF flaw makes it particularly susceptible to automated exploitation tools, emphasizing the need for proactive security measures rather than reactive responses.