CVE-2019-18317 in SPPA-T3000 Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability has been identified in SPPA-T3000 Application Server (All versions). An attacker with network access to the Application Server could cause a Denial-of-Service condition by sending specifically crafted objects via RMI. This vulnerability is independent from CVE-2019-18318 and CVE-2019-18319. Please note that an attacker needs to have network access to the Application Server in order to exploit this vulnerability. At the time of advisory publication no public exploitation of this security vulnerability was known.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-18317 affects the SPPA-T3000 Application Server, a critical component in industrial automation and control systems used primarily in power generation and process control environments. This vulnerability represents a significant security concern for operational technology infrastructure, as it enables remote attackers to disrupt critical system operations through a carefully crafted denial-of-service attack. The SPPA-T3000 platform serves as a central application server in power plant control systems, making its stability and availability paramount to industrial operations. The vulnerability specifically targets the Remote Method Invocation (RMI) interface, which is commonly used for distributed object communication in Java-based applications. This RMI implementation appears to lack proper input validation mechanisms when processing incoming objects, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's object serialization process.
The technical flaw manifests through improper handling of serialized objects within the RMI communication channel, allowing an attacker to craft malicious objects that trigger unexpected behavior in the application server. This vulnerability falls under the category of deserialization flaws, which are commonly classified as CWE-502 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, representing a well-known class of vulnerabilities where untrusted data is deserialized without proper validation. The attack vector requires only network access to the target server, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed from external networks without requiring physical access or elevated privileges within the system. The attacker does not need authentication credentials or administrative access to exploit this vulnerability, which significantly increases the attack surface and potential impact.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can potentially compromise the reliability of critical industrial control systems that depend on the SPPA-T3000 platform. In power generation environments, such a denial-of-service condition could lead to extended downtime, reduced operational efficiency, and potential safety risks during critical system operations. The vulnerability's independence from CVE-2019-18318 and CVE-2019-18319 indicates that it represents a distinct attack surface within the same application server, suggesting that multiple vulnerabilities may exist within the platform's architecture. This particular weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and demonstrates how industrial control systems can be targeted through traditional cybersecurity attack patterns. The absence of known public exploitation at the time of advisory publication does not diminish the severity of the vulnerability, as the potential for exploitation remains high given the nature of the flaw and the critical infrastructure environment in which it operates.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-18317 should focus on network segmentation and access control measures to limit exposure of the vulnerable RMI interface to untrusted networks. Organizations should implement firewalls and network access controls to restrict direct access to the application server's RMI ports, ensuring that only authorized systems can communicate with the vulnerable interface. The implementation of input validation controls and proper object deserialization practices within the application server code represents the most effective long-term solution to address this vulnerability. Security patches should be applied immediately upon availability, as the vulnerability appears to be exploitable without authentication requirements. Additionally, network monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect anomalous RMI traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of applying security controls to industrial control systems, as these environments often contain legacy systems that may not have been designed with modern security considerations in mind. Organizations should also consider implementing network isolation strategies for critical control systems, following the principle of least privilege and reducing the attack surface available to potential adversaries.