CVE-2019-18271 in PI Vision
Summary
by MITRE
OSIsoft PI Vision, All versions of PI Vision prior to 2019. The affected product is vulnerable to a cross-site request forgery that may be introduced on the PI Vision administration site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-18271 affects OSIsoft PI Vision, a web-based visualization platform used for industrial data monitoring and control. This cross-site request forgery vulnerability exists within the administration site of PI Vision versions prior to 2019, representing a significant security weakness that could be exploited by malicious actors to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users. The flaw specifically impacts the administrative functionality of the platform, which typically handles critical system configuration and user management operations. Organizations relying on PI Vision for industrial control systems and process monitoring are particularly at risk since administrative access can provide extensive privileges over the entire system.
The technical nature of this cross-site request forgery vulnerability stems from the absence of proper validation mechanisms for requests originating from external domains. When administrators interact with the PI Vision administration interface, the system fails to adequately verify the source of requests, allowing attackers to craft malicious web pages or emails that can trigger unintended administrative actions. This weakness aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities. The vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering techniques where administrators might be tricked into clicking malicious links or visiting compromised websites while authenticated to the PI Vision system. The attack requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed through standard web-based attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous in industrial environments where security may not be the primary focus.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it can lead to complete system takeover and unauthorized configuration changes that could disrupt industrial operations. An attacker with successful exploitation could modify system settings, add or remove users, change access permissions, or even disable critical monitoring functions. This risk is particularly severe in industrial control systems where PI Vision is often used for real-time monitoring of critical infrastructure such as power plants, refineries, or manufacturing facilities. The potential for operational disruption, safety hazards, and financial losses makes this vulnerability particularly concerning. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1531 - Account Access Removal and T1078 - Valid Accounts, as it could enable attackers to gain persistent access and modify user permissions. The vulnerability also represents a significant risk to the integrity of industrial control systems, potentially leading to cascading failures in critical infrastructure operations.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate remediation through software updates to PI Vision 2019 or later versions that contain the necessary CSRF protection mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as network segmentation to isolate the PI Vision administration interfaces from general network access, and deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious requests. Regular security assessments of industrial control systems should include verification of CSRF protections in all web-based administrative interfaces. Administrative users should be trained to recognize social engineering attempts and to verify the legitimacy of requests before performing administrative actions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping industrial control system software updated and maintaining comprehensive security policies that address both traditional IT security concerns and the unique requirements of industrial environments. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts and establishing robust audit trails to detect unauthorized administrative activities.