CVE-2018-4841 in TIM 1531 IRC
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability has been identified in TIM 1531 IRC (All versions < V1.1). A remote attacker with network access to port 80/tcp or port 443/tcp could perform administrative operations on the device without prior authentication. Successful exploitation could allow to cause a denial-of-service, or read and manipulate data as well as configuration settings of the affected device. At the stage of publishing this security advisory no public exploitation is known. Siemens provides mitigations to resolve it.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4841 affects TIM 1531 IRC devices running software versions prior to V1.1, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that exposes industrial control systems to remote exploitation. This weakness resides in the device's web interface implementation where insufficient authentication mechanisms allow unauthorized actors to perform administrative operations through standard network ports 80/tcp and 443/tcp. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and session management controls within the device's HTTP server component, creating a pathway for unauthenticated users to escalate privileges and gain full administrative access to the system. The affected device operates within industrial environments where operational technology security is paramount, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for critical infrastructure protection.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2018-4841 enables a remote attacker to execute administrative functions without proper authentication credentials, fundamentally compromising the device's security posture. This authentication bypass vulnerability falls under CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The flaw allows attackers to perform operations that include but are not limited to data manipulation, configuration changes, and denial-of-service conditions that can severely impact industrial processes. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it provides attackers with the ability to modify device settings, potentially disrupting critical operations or creating backdoors for future exploitation attempts. The lack of input sanitization and proper access control validation in the web interface creates a persistent security gap that can be exploited across network boundaries.
From an operational standpoint, the exploitation of this vulnerability poses significant risks to industrial environments where TIM 1531 IRC devices are deployed for process control and monitoring. The potential for denial-of-service attacks can lead to production halts and operational disruptions that may result in financial losses and safety hazards. Data manipulation capabilities could compromise the integrity of industrial processes, potentially leading to equipment damage, environmental incidents, or safety violations. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the network, eliminating the need for physical access or insider knowledge. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploit public-facing application and T1075 for remote services, demonstrating how such vulnerabilities can be leveraged in sophisticated attack campaigns targeting industrial control systems.
Organizations deploying TIM 1531 IRC devices must implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates to bring the device software to version V1.1 or later. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to restrict access to the affected ports 80/tcp and 443/tcp, limiting exposure to authorized personnel only. The implementation of network monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts by monitoring for unusual access patterns or unauthorized administrative activities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass issues within the industrial control system environment. Additionally, organizations should establish incident response procedures specifically tailored for industrial control system vulnerabilities to ensure rapid response and mitigation when such threats are detected, as outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework for critical infrastructure protection.