CVE-2018-13798 in SICAM A8000 CP-8000
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability has been identified in SICAM A8000 CP-8000 (All versions < V14), SICAM A8000 CP-802X (All versions < V14), SICAM A8000 CP-8050 (All versions < V2.00). Specially crafted network packets sent to port 80/TCP or 443/TCP could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to cause a Denial-of-Service condition of the web server. The security vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker with network access to the affected systems on port 80/TCP or 443/TCP. Successful exploitation requires no system privileges and no user interaction. An attacker could use the vulnerability to compromise availability of the web server. A system reboot is required to recover the web service of the device. At the time of advisory update, exploit code for this security vulnerability is public.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2023
This vulnerability affects Siemens SICAM A8000 series industrial control systems including CP-8000, CP-802X, and CP-8050 devices running firmware versions below the specified thresholds. The affected systems operate web servers on standard HTTP (port 80) and HTTPS (port 443) protocols, making them susceptible to remote exploitation without authentication requirements. The vulnerability represents a critical denial-of-service condition that compromises the availability of industrial web services essential for operational monitoring and control functions.
The technical flaw manifests through improper handling of specially crafted network packets sent to the vulnerable web server interfaces. When these malformed packets are received, the web server process becomes unstable and crashes, resulting in complete service disruption. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-400, specifically related to uncontrolled resource consumption, where network resources are consumed in a manner that exhausts system capabilities. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring any authentication credentials or privileged access levels, making it highly accessible to potential attackers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption as it affects industrial control systems that may be critical to manufacturing processes, power generation, or other essential infrastructure operations. When the web server becomes unavailable, operators lose access to crucial monitoring interfaces and configuration capabilities, potentially leading to extended downtime and operational disruption. The requirement for system reboot to restore functionality compounds the operational impact, as it may require physical access to the devices or coordinated restart procedures that could affect production processes. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004 (Network Denial of Service) and T1566.001 (Phishing via Social Engineering) as attackers could use it to create conditions that facilitate further exploitation.
The public availability of exploit code significantly increases the risk profile of this vulnerability, as it removes the barrier to entry for potential attackers. Organizations should immediately implement network segmentation to isolate affected devices from critical operational networks and apply firmware updates to versions that address the vulnerability. Additional mitigations include implementing network access controls to restrict access to ports 80 and 443 to only authorized administrative networks and monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current firmware versions in industrial environments and highlights the need for robust network security controls around operational technology systems that may be exposed to external network access.