CVE-2018-7499 in WebAccess
Summary
by MITRE
In Advantech WebAccess versions V8.2_20170817 and prior, WebAccess versions V8.3.0 and prior, WebAccess Dashboard versions V.2.0.15 and prior, WebAccess Scada Node versions prior to 8.3.1, and WebAccess/NMS 2.0.3 and prior, several stack-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities have been identified, which may allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2020
The CVE-2018-7499 vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow issue affecting multiple Advantech WebAccess products including the main WebAccess platform, WebAccess Dashboard, WebAccess Scada Node, and WebAccess/NMS components. This vulnerability exists in versions up to and including V8.2_20170817 for WebAccess, V8.3.0 for WebAccess versions, V2.0.15 for WebAccess Dashboard, prior to 8.3.1 for WebAccess Scada Node, and 2.0.3 for WebAccess/NMS. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and bounds checking in the software's handling of user-supplied data, creating opportunities for attackers to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper buffer management within the Advantech WebAccess applications where stack-based buffer overflows occur when processing specially crafted input data. Attackers can leverage this weakness by sending malicious payloads that exceed the allocated buffer space, causing the program to overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses and function pointers. This memory corruption leads to arbitrary code execution capabilities, allowing threat actors to gain complete control over affected systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in stack memory regions where the buffer size is insufficient to handle the input data.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2018-7499 is severe as it affects industrial control systems and network management platforms that are critical to manufacturing and infrastructure operations. These systems often operate in environments where continuous uptime and security are paramount, making exploitation of this vulnerability particularly dangerous. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely, meaning attackers do not require physical access to the systems and can potentially compromise entire industrial networks through a single successful attack. This represents a significant concern for the industrial control systems (ICS) community and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can execute arbitrary code to establish persistent access or deploy additional malware.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest patches and updates from Advantech to address the identified buffer overflow vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of these critical systems to untrusted networks. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems and monitoring for anomalous network traffic patterns can help identify exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date industrial control system software and implementing proper security practices as outlined in NIST SP 800-82 for ICS security. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in industrial automation environments, as this vulnerability represents a common attack vector targeting operational technology infrastructure.