CVE-2018-14829 in RSLinx Classic
Summary
by MITRE
Rockwell Automation RSLinx Classic Versions 4.00.01 and prior. This vulnerability may allow a remote threat actor to intentionally send a malformed CIP packet to Port 44818, causing the software application to stop responding and crash. This vulnerability also has the potential to exploit a buffer overflow condition, which may allow the threat actor to remotely execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2020
Rockwell Automation RSLinx Classic versions 4.00.01 and earlier contain a critical remote code execution vulnerability that affects industrial control systems used in manufacturing and process automation environments. This vulnerability exists within the communication protocol handling mechanism that processes Common Industrial Protocol packets on port 44818, which is the default port used by RSLinx Classic for device communication and configuration. The flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs when the application fails to properly validate incoming packet sizes before processing them, creating an exploitable memory corruption vulnerability that can be leveraged by remote attackers without authentication requirements.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the CIP packet processing subsystem of RSLinx Classic. When a malicious actor sends a specially crafted malformed CIP packet to the designated port, the application's memory management routines fail to properly handle the oversized data structure, leading to stack or heap corruption. This buffer overflow condition can be exploited to overwrite critical memory locations including return addresses and function pointers, enabling remote code execution with the privileges of the running application process. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow and CWE-122 Heap-based Buffer Overflow categories, both of which are classified as high-risk conditions in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication and can be executed from any network location that can reach the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire industrial control networks. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause the RSLinx Classic application to crash and restart, leading to temporary loss of communication with connected industrial devices and potential production downtime. However, the more severe consequence involves remote code execution capabilities that could enable attackers to install backdoors, modify device configurations, or even gain access to the broader industrial network infrastructure. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1071 Application Layer Protocol for lateral movement within industrial environments. The affected systems typically operate in air-gapped or isolated environments, but the potential for network-connected industrial systems makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for critical infrastructure sectors.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to restrict access to port 44818, deployment of network access control lists to prevent unauthorized connections, and application whitelisting to prevent execution of unauthorized code. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to RSLinx Classic version 4.00.02 or later, which includes proper input validation and memory management fixes. System administrators should also conduct thorough network audits to identify all instances of vulnerable software and implement monitoring solutions to detect suspicious network traffic patterns on port 44818. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary network services, implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to detect malformed CIP packet traffic, and establishing incident response procedures for industrial control system security events. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current industrial control system software versions and implementing robust security controls in operational technology environments.