CVE-2018-19615 in PowerMonitor 1000
Summary
by MITRE • 01/25/2023
An issue was discovered in Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley PowerMonitor 1000. /Security/Security.shtm has stored XSS via a /Security/cgi-bin/security URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19615 affects Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley PowerMonitor 1000 devices, representing a critical security flaw in industrial control systems that requires immediate attention. This issue manifests as a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability within the device's web interface, specifically targeting the /Security/Security.shtm page which is accessed through the /Security/cgi-bin/security URI endpoint. The vulnerability exists within the web application layer of the PowerMonitor 1000, which is designed to provide monitoring and control capabilities for electrical power systems in industrial environments. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning given the critical infrastructure context where such devices operate, as it could potentially allow attackers to compromise the security of industrial control systems.
The technical flaw stems from improper input validation and output encoding within the web application's security management interface. When users interact with the /Security/cgi-bin/security URI, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before storing and subsequently rendering it within the Security.shtm page. This allows an attacker to inject malicious script code through the web interface, which gets stored on the device and executed whenever the vulnerable page is accessed by any user. The vulnerability follows the CWE-079 pattern for cross-site scripting, specifically classified as a stored XSS flaw where malicious code persists in the application's database or storage system. The attack vector involves an authenticated user or attacker with access to the device's web interface, making this particularly dangerous in environments where physical or network access to industrial devices may be limited but still possible.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple web application compromise, as it represents a significant risk to industrial control system security and operational continuity. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information, manipulate security settings, or even redirect users to malicious sites that could further compromise the industrial network. The PowerMonitor 1000 devices are commonly deployed in critical infrastructure environments such as manufacturing facilities, power generation plants, and other industrial settings where maintaining the integrity of monitoring and control systems is paramount. This vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate privileges within the device, potentially leading to more severe consequences including disruption of critical operations, data exfiltration, or even physical system compromise through cascading effects in interconnected industrial control networks. The vulnerability's presence in the security management interface is particularly concerning as it directly impacts the device's ability to maintain secure access controls and authentication mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-19615 should include immediate firmware updates from Rockwell Automation to address the stored XSS vulnerability, along with network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish secure remote access protocols that minimize the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential harvesting, as attackers may attempt to use the XSS vulnerability to capture credentials or execute malicious commands. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls can help prevent exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments of industrial control systems should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing to ensure that the firmware update does not introduce compatibility issues with existing industrial control system configurations, as maintaining operational continuity is critical in industrial environments where system downtime can result in significant financial and operational consequences.