CVE-2018-11461 in SINUMERIK 828D
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability has been identified in SINUMERIK 808D V4.7 (All versions), SINUMERIK 808D V4.8 (All versions), SINUMERIK 828D V4.7 (All versions < V4.7 SP6 HF1), SINUMERIK 840D sl V4.7 (All versions < V4.7 SP6 HF5), SINUMERIK 840D sl V4.8 (All versions < V4.8 SP3). A local attacker with user privileges could use the service command application for privilege escalation to an elevated user but not root. The security vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker with local access to the affected systems. Successful exploitation requires user privileges but no user interaction. The vulnerability could allow an attacker to compromise confidentiality, integrity and availability of the system. At the time of advisory publication no public exploitation of this security vulnerability was known.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11461 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw affecting Siemens SINUMERIK series industrial control systems. These systems are widely deployed in manufacturing environments for numerical control of machine tools and production processes, making their security paramount to industrial operations. The affected versions include SINUMERIK 808D V4.7 and V4.8, SINUMERIK 828D V4.7 (before SP6 HF1), SINUMERIK 840D sl V4.7 (before SP6 HF5), and SINUMERIK 840D sl V4.8 (before SP3). These industrial control systems operate in environments where cybersecurity is increasingly critical as part of the broader industrial internet of things ecosystem.
The technical flaw resides in the service command application which permits local attackers with standard user privileges to escalate their access rights to elevated user status, though not to the root level. This represents a classic local privilege escalation vulnerability that allows attackers to gain higher-level system access without requiring additional authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability exploits weaknesses in the system's access control mechanisms, specifically in how the service command handles privilege management and user session validation. The flaw is categorized under CWE-269, which addresses improper privilege management, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers exploit for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple access control breaches, as it compromises the fundamental security posture of industrial control systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially access sensitive operational data, modify system configurations, and disrupt production processes. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability triad are all at risk since the elevated access level allows for comprehensive system manipulation. This vulnerability particularly threatens industrial environments where these control systems manage critical manufacturing processes, as it could enable attackers to cause production downtime, quality issues, or even physical damage to equipment. The risk is amplified in environments where industrial control systems are connected to corporate networks or where they form part of larger interconnected industrial ecosystems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate system updates and patches provided by Siemens to address the specific privilege escalation flaw. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit local access to these critical systems and establish strict access controls for user accounts. Regular security assessments and monitoring of system logs for unauthorized privilege escalation attempts should be conducted. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and maintaining up-to-date system inventories can help reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure configuration management in industrial environments and the need for robust security practices throughout the industrial control system lifecycle, as recommended by standards such as IEC 62443 and NIST SP 800-82 for industrial control systems security.