CVE-2019-18318 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 can cause a Denial-of-Service condition by sending specifically crafted objects via RMI. This vulnerability is independent from CVE-2019-18317 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-2019-18318 affects the SPPA-T3000 Application Server, a critical component in industrial control systems used for power plant automation and monitoring. This server operates within the SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) environment, where reliability and continuous operation are paramount for industrial safety and process control. The affected system serves as a central hub for managing and processing data from various sensors and control devices in power generation facilities, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to disrupt critical infrastructure operations.
The technical flaw manifests through the Application Server's handling of Remote Method Invocation (RMI) communications, which is a standard Java-based mechanism for enabling distributed object communication. When an attacker sends specifically crafted objects through the RMI interface, the server fails to properly validate or sanitize these incoming objects before processing them. This improper input handling creates a condition where the server becomes overwhelmed or enters an unstable state, ultimately leading to a denial-of-service scenario that prevents legitimate operations from continuing. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of serialized objects received through RMI connections, which allows attackers to inject malformed data that disrupts normal server operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service interruption, as it can compromise the integrity of industrial control processes that depend on continuous server availability. In power generation environments, such denial-of-service conditions can lead to incomplete data collection, disrupted monitoring capabilities, and potential safety risks if control systems cannot properly communicate with their supervisory servers. The vulnerability's independence from CVE-2019-18317 and CVE-2019-18319 indicates it operates through distinct attack vectors, suggesting multiple entry points exist for compromising the system's availability. Organizations deploying SPPA-T3000 systems face significant risk as this vulnerability requires only network access to the server itself, making it exploitable from within the local network perimeter without requiring additional authentication credentials.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for "Network Denial of Service." The attack surface is particularly concerning given that industrial control systems often operate in isolated networks with limited visibility and monitoring capabilities, making detection of such attacks more challenging. Organizations should implement network segmentation to restrict access to the Application Server, deploy intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for anomalous RMI traffic patterns, and ensure regular patching of industrial control system components. Additionally, network access controls should be implemented to limit who can communicate with the server, and security monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a denial-of-service issue underscores the importance of implementing redundant systems and fail-safe mechanisms within critical infrastructure environments to maintain operational continuity even when individual components are compromised.