CVE-2019-14931 in ME-RTU
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered on Mitsubishi Electric ME-RTU devices through 2.02 and INEA ME-RTU devices through 3.0. An unauthenticated remote OS Command Injection vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the RTU due to the passing of unsafe user supplied data to the RTU's system shell. Functionality in mobile.php provides users with the ability to ping sites or IP addresses via Mobile Connection Test. When the Mobile Connection Test is submitted, action.php is called to execute the test. An attacker can use a shell command separator (;) in the host variable to execute operating system commands upon submitting the test data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-14931 represents a critical unauthenticated remote operating system command injection flaw affecting Mitsubishi Electric ME-RTU devices running firmware versions 2.02 and earlier, as well as INEA ME-RTU devices through version 3.0. This vulnerability resides within the mobile connection testing functionality of these industrial control devices, specifically in the mobile.php component that enables users to ping sites or IP addresses through mobile connections. The flaw manifests when the Mobile Connection Test functionality submits data to action.php, which then executes the test without proper input sanitization. This design oversight creates a direct pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary operating system commands into the device's shell environment, fundamentally compromising the device's security posture and operational integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the host variable parameter within the Mobile Connection Test functionality. Attackers can append shell command separators such as semicolons to the host input field, effectively bypassing normal input validation mechanisms and allowing unauthorized execution of operating system commands on the affected RTU. This command injection vulnerability directly maps to CWE-77, which specifically addresses "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')", and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's remote nature eliminates the need for physical access or authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in industrial environments where these devices often operate with minimal security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple command execution, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected RTU systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially access sensitive operational data, modify device configurations, disrupt industrial processes, or establish persistent access points for further network infiltration. The implications are particularly severe in industrial control systems where these RTUs typically manage critical infrastructure operations, as the compromise of a single device can potentially affect entire industrial processes and supply chains. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell", and represents a fundamental breach of the principle of least privilege that should be maintained in industrial environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-14931 should prioritize immediate firmware updates from Mitsubishi Electric to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to these devices, particularly restricting direct internet access and implementing strict firewall rules that prevent unauthorized communication with the affected components. Additional protective measures include disabling unnecessary services and functionalities, implementing robust input validation at all application layers, and conducting comprehensive network monitoring to detect anomalous command execution patterns. Security professionals should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify command injection attempts and establish baseline operational behaviors for these devices to quickly identify deviations that may indicate exploitation attempts.