CVE-2018-19013 in CX-Supervisor
Summary
by MITRE
An attacker could inject commands to delete files and/or delete the contents of a file on CX-Supervisor (Versions 3.42 and prior) through a specially crafted project file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19013 represents a critical command injection flaw within CX-Supervisor software versions 3.42 and earlier. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the project file processing functionality. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to craft specially formatted project files that, when processed by the supervisor software, execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system. The specific command injection occurs during the parsing and handling of project files, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into system commands without proper sanitization or escaping mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a command injection pattern classified under CWE-77 and CWE-94, where attacker-controlled data flows into command execution contexts. The flaw exists in the software's project file parser which fails to properly validate or escape user input before incorporating it into system-level operations. When a malicious project file is loaded, the supervisor software processes the crafted input and executes commands that can result in unauthorized file deletion or content destruction. This represents a severe privilege escalation vulnerability as it allows attackers to perform destructive operations that should typically be restricted to authorized administrators.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data loss, as it enables full system compromise through unauthorized file manipulation. Attackers can leverage this weakness to delete critical system files, corrupt project data, or even remove the supervisor software itself, potentially leading to complete system outages. The vulnerability affects organizations using CX-Supervisor in industrial control environments where project files are frequently exchanged and processed, creating multiple attack vectors for malicious actors. The damage potential includes disruption of critical processes, loss of valuable configuration data, and potential compromise of the entire industrial control system infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-19013 require immediate software updates to versions that address the command injection vulnerability through proper input validation and sanitization. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies that prevent the processing of untrusted project files, employ sandboxing techniques for project file handling, and establish network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Security controls should include monitoring for unusual file deletion patterns and implementing automated patch management processes. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically focusing on the execution of malicious commands through crafted input. System administrators should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security audits of project file handling processes to prevent unauthorized manipulation of critical system resources.