CVE-2018-5473 in D60 Line Distance Relay
Summary
by MITRE
An Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer issue was discovered in GE D60 Line Distance Relay devices running firmware Version 7.11 and prior. The SSH functions of the device are vulnerable to buffer overflow conditions that may allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the device.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5473 represents a critical security flaw in GE D60 Line Distance Relay devices that operates at the intersection of memory safety and network protocol security. This issue stems from improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer, specifically affecting the Secure Shell implementation used for remote device management. The affected devices run firmware versions 7.11 and earlier, making them susceptible to exploitation by remote attackers who can manipulate the SSH service to execute malicious code on the target system.
The technical flaw manifests in the SSH function implementation where input validation and buffer management mechanisms fail to properly constrain data operations. When remote attackers send specially crafted payloads through the SSH interface, they can cause buffer overflow conditions that overwrite adjacent memory locations. This memory corruption allows attackers to manipulate program execution flow and potentially gain unauthorized control over the device. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes the condition where a buffer is accessed beyond its allocated bounds, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to information disclosure or code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise of industrial control devices. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain full administrative privileges on the affected relays, potentially disrupting power grid operations and creating cascading failures throughout the electrical infrastructure. The implications are particularly severe in critical infrastructure environments where these devices are deployed for protective relaying and power system monitoring. The vulnerability creates a persistent backdoor that can be exploited repeatedly, making it a significant threat to industrial cybersecurity and operational technology security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5473 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from GE to address the buffer overflow conditions in the SSH implementation. Organizations must implement network segmentation to isolate these critical devices from general network access and deploy robust network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous SSH traffic patterns. The implementation of strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication and certificate-based authentication should supplement the remediation efforts. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected GE D60 Line Distance Relay devices within their infrastructure and establish incident response procedures for potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1210, which covers exploitation of remote services, and highlights the importance of maintaining updated industrial control system firmware to prevent unauthorized access to critical infrastructure components.