CVE-2018-4859 in M875
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability has been identified in SCALANCE M875 (All versions). An authenticated remote attacker with access to the web interface (443/tcp), could execute arbitrary operating system commands. Successful exploitation requires that the attacker has network access to the web interface. The attacker must be authenticated as administrative user to exploit the security vulnerability. The vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the device. At the time of advisory publication no public exploitation of this security vulnerability was known.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2023
The SCALANCE M875 is a industrial Ethernet switch manufactured by Siemens that operates within critical infrastructure environments, particularly in industrial automation and control systems. This device serves as a network communication hub for industrial processes and requires robust security measures to protect against unauthorized access and potential compromise. The vulnerability identified in this device represents a significant concern for operational technology environments where network segmentation and access controls are paramount for maintaining system integrity and operational continuity.
The technical flaw in CVE-2018-4859 manifests as a command injection vulnerability within the web interface of the SCALANCE M875 device. This vulnerability exists in the processing of user-supplied input through the web administration interface, specifically when handling parameters that are directly passed to underlying operating system commands without proper sanitization or validation. The flaw allows authenticated administrative users to inject malicious commands that are then executed by the device's operating system with elevated privileges. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-77 which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, commonly referred to as OS command injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the device's operating system and network functionality. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially modify network configurations, disable security features, access sensitive operational data, or even use the compromised device as a pivot point to target other systems within the industrial network. The requirement for administrative authentication reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk, as administrative credentials could be compromised through social engineering, credential theft, or other attack vectors. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1078.004 for valid accounts to maintain persistent access to industrial control systems.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires that an attacker first obtain valid administrative credentials to access the web interface on port 443, which represents a significant barrier to entry but not an insurmountable one. The absence of public exploitation at the time of advisory publication suggests that this vulnerability was relatively obscure, but its potential impact on industrial environments makes it a serious concern for security professionals responsible for protecting critical infrastructure. Organizations using SCALANCE M875 devices should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation, access control restrictions, and regular security updates to prevent unauthorized access to the device's administrative interface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in industrial equipment and the necessity of regular security assessments for operational technology systems.