CVE-2018-20026 in CODESYS
Summary
by MITRE
Improper Communication Address Filtering exists in CODESYS V3 products versions prior V3.5.14.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2018-20026 represents a critical flaw in CODESYS V3 products affecting versions prior to V3.5.14.0, where improper communication address filtering allows attackers to bypass security controls and access unauthorized network resources. This issue specifically impacts industrial automation and control systems that rely on CODESYS for programming and runtime environments, creating potential pathways for malicious actors to exploit network communication protocols and gain unintended access to critical infrastructure components.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient validation of communication addresses within the CODESYS V3 runtime environment, which fails to properly filter or sanitize network addresses used for inter-process communication. This weakness enables attackers to manipulate communication parameters and potentially redirect traffic to unauthorized endpoints, effectively circumventing the intended security boundaries of the industrial control system. The flaw operates at the network protocol level, where address validation mechanisms are either absent or inadequately implemented, allowing for address spoofing and unauthorized access attempts.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to industrial control systems and critical infrastructure environments where CODESYS V3 is deployed. Attackers could leverage this weakness to intercept communications between control system components, potentially disrupting operations or gaining access to sensitive industrial processes. The impact extends beyond simple network access, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized modification of control parameters, data corruption, or complete system compromise within industrial environments. This vulnerability particularly affects sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and process control where CODESYS is commonly utilized for automation solutions.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to CODESYS V3 version 3.5.14.0 or later, which includes proper address filtering mechanisms and enhanced communication security controls. Additionally, network segmentation strategies should be implemented to limit communication paths between critical control systems and external networks, while monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous communication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a significant concern for organizations following ATT&CK framework's initial access and privilege escalation tactics, particularly within industrial control system environments where network security is paramount for operational continuity and safety.