CVE-2018-14811 in V-Server
Summary
by MITRE
Fuji Electric V-Server 4.0.3.0 and prior, Multiple untrusted pointer dereference vulnerabilities have been identified, which may allow remote code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2020
The vulnerability identified in Fuji Electric V-Server versions 4.0.3.0 and earlier represents a critical security flaw that exposes systems to remote code execution attacks through multiple untrusted pointer dereference conditions. This vulnerability affects the industrial control systems and server infrastructure manufactured by Fuji Electric, which are widely deployed in manufacturing environments and critical infrastructure sectors. The presence of untrusted pointer dereferences in the software architecture creates a fundamental weakness that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access and potentially compromise entire operational technology networks.
These untrusted pointer dereference vulnerabilities occur when the software processes input data without proper validation of pointer values, allowing attackers to manipulate memory references and execute arbitrary code on the target system. The flaw exists in the server's handling of external inputs, particularly in network protocols and data processing functions that do not adequately verify the legitimacy of memory pointers before dereferencing them. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-476 which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions, though the specific nature of untrusted pointer dereferences in this context represents a more complex exploitation scenario that extends beyond simple null pointer issues. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means that attackers can exploit these flaws from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or prior authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple system compromise, as it affects industrial control systems that manage critical manufacturing processes and infrastructure operations. When exploited, these vulnerabilities can enable attackers to gain full administrative control over the V-Server systems, potentially leading to production disruptions, data manipulation, or even physical safety hazards in environments where industrial processes are directly controlled by these systems. The remote code execution capability allows attackers to install backdoors, modify operational parameters, or execute malicious code that could propagate throughout the industrial network. This vulnerability particularly impacts the ATT&CK framework's execution and privilege escalation techniques, as it provides a direct pathway for adversaries to establish persistent access and expand their foothold within operational technology environments.
Organizations utilizing Fuji Electric V-Server systems should immediately implement mitigations including firmware updates to versions that address these pointer dereference vulnerabilities, network segmentation to limit exposure, and enhanced monitoring of network traffic for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in industrial control systems and highlights the need for robust software security practices in operational technology environments. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify exploitation attempts targeting these types of memory corruption vulnerabilities, as the attack surface extends to multiple network protocols and data processing functions within the affected software.