CVE-2018-19003 in Mark VIe
Summary
by MITRE
GE Mark VIe, EX2100e, EX2100e_Reg, and LS2100e Versions 03.03.28C to 05.02.04C, EX2100e All versions prior to v04.09.00C, EX2100e_Reg All versions prior to v04.09.00C, and LS2100e All versions prior to v04.09.00C The affected versions of the application have a path traversal vulnerability that fails to restrict the ability of an attacker to gain access to restricted information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19003 affects several versions of GE Mark VIe, EX2100e, EX2100e_Reg, and LS2100e industrial control systems, specifically targeting applications running version 03.03.28C through 05.02.04C and earlier releases prior to v04.09.00C. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of industrial automation and control systems within critical infrastructure environments. The affected systems are commonly deployed in power generation, oil and gas, and other industrial facilities where operational technology (OT) security is paramount for maintaining system availability and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive operational data.
This vulnerability stems from a path traversal flaw in the affected software implementations, which fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input that influences file system access paths. The technical nature of this weakness aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious input that manipulates the application's file handling routines to access files and directories outside of the intended restricted paths. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to bypass normal access controls and potentially retrieve sensitive configuration files, operational data, or system binaries that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential entry points for more sophisticated attacks within industrial environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could access critical system information that might reveal network topology, operational parameters, or configuration details that could be leveraged for further attacks. This weakness particularly concerns industrial control systems where the confidentiality and integrity of operational data directly affects system safety and security. The vulnerability could enable attackers to gain insights into system architecture that might facilitate subsequent attacks targeting system availability or integrity, potentially leading to operational disruptions or safety hazards in industrial processes.
Organizations utilizing these affected systems should implement immediate remediation measures including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released after version v04.09.00C. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit potential attack vectors, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect suspicious file access patterns. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers the discovery of system information through directory listing and file system access. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their industrial control systems and implement proper input validation controls to prevent similar path traversal vulnerabilities from occurring in other components of their OT environments. Regular security updates and proper access control implementations are essential for maintaining the security posture of industrial automation systems.