CVE-2018-18997 in Pluto Safety PLC Gateway Ethernet GATE-E1
Summary
by MITRE
Pluto Safety PLC Gateway Ethernet devices in ABB GATE-E1 and GATE-E2 all versions allows an unauthenticated attacker using the administrative web interface to insert an HTML/Javascript payload into any of the device properties, which may allow an attacker to display/execute the payload in a visitor browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18997 affects Pluto Safety PLC Gateway Ethernet devices manufactured by ABB, specifically the GATE-E1 and GATE-E2 models across all versions. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity and confidentiality of industrial control systems by enabling unauthorized remote code execution through web interface manipulation. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the administrative web interface of these industrial devices, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject malicious content directly into device configuration parameters.
This security weakness manifests as a cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to inject HTML and JavaScript payloads into device properties without requiring any authentication credentials. The flaw exists because the web interface fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before storing and displaying it within the device configuration pages. When legitimate users or administrators access the device properties through their web browsers, the malicious payload executes in their browser context, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the administrative interface level, where attackers can manipulate device configurations and potentially gain deeper access to the underlying industrial network infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within industrial environments. According to the CWE database, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and potentially CWE-94 which covers External Control of Code Generation. The attack vector enables threat actors to perform session hijacking, data exfiltration, and potentially manipulate industrial processes through the compromised device. In industrial control systems, this could lead to unauthorized process modifications, data corruption, or even physical safety system compromise, particularly given the safety-critical nature of Pluto Safety PLC devices. The vulnerability's persistence is particularly dangerous as injected payloads remain active until manually removed or the device is rebooted.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of network segmentation to isolate these devices from general network access, deployment of web application firewalls to filter malicious requests, and application of manufacturer-provided security patches when available. Organizations should also implement strict access controls for administrative interfaces, disable unnecessary web services, and conduct regular security audits of industrial control system components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for Scripting and T1566.001 for Spearphishing Attachment, highlighting the need for both network-level defenses and user awareness training. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within web applications, as recommended by OWASP security guidelines, would prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future deployments. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing of industrial control systems are essential to identify and remediate similar weaknesses that could compromise operational technology environments.