CVE-2018-4833 in RFID 181-EIP
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability has been identified in RFID 181-EIP (All versions), RUGGEDCOM WiMAX (V4.4 and V4.5), SCALANCE X-200 (All versions < V5.2.3), SCALANCE X-200 IRT (All versions < V5.4.1), SCALANCE X-204RNA (All versions), SCALANCE X-300 (All versions), SCALANCE X408 (All versions), SCALANCE X414 (All versions), SIMATIC RF182C (All versions). Unprivileged remote attackers located in the same local network segment (OSI Layer 2) could gain remote code execution on the affected products by sending a specially crafted DHCP response to a client's DHCP request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical remote code execution flaw affecting multiple industrial networking devices from Siemens and RuggedCom, specifically targeting the dynamic host configuration protocol implementation within these systems. The vulnerability exists in the way these devices process DHCP responses, creating an attack vector that allows unprivileged remote adversaries to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates at OSI Layer 2, meaning attackers can exploit it from within the same local network segment without requiring network-level privileges, making it accessible to insiders or adjacent network users who may not have direct access to the target systems.
The technical exploitation mechanism involves sending a maliciously crafted DHCP response packet to a client device that is actively making a DHCP request, which then processes this malformed response and executes the embedded malicious code. This vulnerability is classified as a buffer overflow or memory corruption issue within the DHCP processing module of these industrial communication devices, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to manipulate the device's memory and execute arbitrary commands. The attack requires only network-level access within the same broadcast domain, making it particularly dangerous in industrial environments where physical security measures may be less stringent than in traditional IT environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for industrial control systems and network infrastructure, as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities that could lead to unauthorized access to critical network operations, data manipulation, or disruption of industrial processes. These devices typically operate in environments where continuous operation is paramount, and the ability to execute remote code on network infrastructure components could result in significant production downtime or safety risks. The affected products span various industrial networking equipment including wireless access points, industrial routers, and communication modules that form the backbone of many industrial networks, making the potential impact widespread across multiple industrial sectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from the vendors, network segmentation to isolate critical industrial devices, implementation of DHCP snooping mechanisms to prevent unauthorized DHCP responses, and network monitoring to detect suspicious DHCP activity. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control measures to restrict which devices can respond to DHCP requests within their industrial networks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) and CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) classifications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1021.001 (Remote Services: Remote Desktop Protocol) through potential exploitation pathways. Given the industrial context, organizations should also conduct thorough risk assessments and implement network monitoring solutions specifically designed for industrial environments to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.