CVE-2018-7515 in CX-Supervisor
Summary
by MITRE
In Omron CX-Supervisor Versions 3.30 and prior, access of uninitialized pointer vulnerabilities can be exploited when CX Supervisor indirectly calls an initialized pointer when parsing malformed packets.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7515 affects Omron CX-Supervisor software versions 3.30 and earlier, representing a critical access of uninitialized pointer issue that can be exploited during packet parsing operations. This flaw resides within the software's network protocol handling mechanisms where the application fails to properly validate pointer initialization states before dereferencing memory addresses. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the CX Supervisor application processes malformed network packets, creating conditions where uninitialized memory pointers are indirectly invoked during the parsing sequence.
This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory safety issues and aligns with CWE-476 which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions. The technical implementation flaw occurs at the memory management level where the application assumes certain pointers have been properly initialized without proper validation checks. When malformed packets are received, the parsing routine attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly allocated or initialized, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or application crashes. The indirect calling mechanism amplifies the risk as the uninitialized pointer access occurs through a chain of function calls rather than direct memory manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it creates potential entry points for malicious actors to execute unauthorized code within the targeted system environment. Attackers can craft specially formatted network packets designed to trigger the uninitialized pointer dereference, potentially allowing for privilege escalation or complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects industrial control systems running Omron CX-Supervisor software, which are commonly deployed in manufacturing and process control environments where system reliability and security are paramount. This exposure creates significant risk for operational technology environments where such systems control critical infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate software updates to versions that address the uninitialized pointer handling issue, while also implementing network segmentation and packet filtering measures to reduce exposure to malformed packet attacks. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their industrial control systems to identify all instances of affected CX-Supervisor versions and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place. Network monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and system administrators should implement least privilege access controls to minimize potential impact from successful exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in industrial control software, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution through memory corruption vulnerabilities.