CVE-2018-19694 in Netbiter WS100
Summary
by MITRE
HMS Industrial Networks Netbiter WS100 3.30.5 devices and previous have reflected XSS in the login form.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19694 affects HMS Industrial Networks Netbiter WS100 devices running firmware version 3.30.5 and earlier, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that compromises the security of industrial control systems. This reflected XSS vulnerability specifically targets the device's login form, creating a pathway for attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated sessions. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web interface components of these industrial devices, which are commonly deployed in manufacturing and industrial automation environments where security is paramount.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the device's failure to properly sanitize user inputs submitted through the login form, allowing malicious payloads to be reflected back to users in the web interface without appropriate HTML escaping or sanitization. When an attacker crafts a malicious payload and submits it through the login form, the device processes this input without adequate validation, subsequently reflecting the malicious script in the response sent to the victim's browser. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by attackers who gain access to the device's web interface, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the industrial network.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple web interface compromise, as it directly threatens the integrity and security of industrial control systems that rely on these devices for network monitoring and management. Industrial environments using Netbiter WS100 devices face significant risk of unauthorized access to critical infrastructure, particularly since these devices often serve as gateways between industrial networks and external management interfaces. The reflected nature of the XSS attack means that victims need only visit a malicious URL or interact with compromised web content to be affected, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where operators may inadvertently encounter malicious links in emails or other communications.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as mapping to CWE-79, Cross-site Scripting, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Scripting, specifically targeting web application interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in industrial web interfaces, where traditional security measures may be insufficient. Organizations deploying these devices should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, network segmentation to limit access to these devices, and enhanced monitoring of web traffic to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments of industrial web interfaces should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other industrial control system components, ensuring comprehensive protection against evolving threats in operational technology environments.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the growing need for security considerations in industrial control systems, where legacy devices often lack modern security features and remain vulnerable to well-known exploitation techniques. This flaw represents a common pattern in industrial cybersecurity where devices receive minimal security updates and lack proper input sanitization, creating persistent attack surfaces that can be exploited to compromise critical infrastructure operations.