CVE-2019-18331 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 gain access to path and filenames on the server by sending specifically crafted packets to 1099/tcp. 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.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-18331 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 information disclosure risk that could potentially compromise the security posture of industrial control systems. The SPPA-T3000 platform serves as a centralized application server for managing complex industrial processes, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to understand system architecture and identify potential attack vectors. The vulnerability specifically manifests through the server's handling of network requests on TCP port 1099, which is commonly used for remote method invocation and distributed computing services.
The technical flaw in CVE-2019-18331 stems from insufficient input validation and improper error handling within the Application Server's network protocol implementation. When an attacker sends specifically crafted packets to the designated TCP port 1099, the server responds with detailed path and filename information that reveals the underlying file system structure. This type of information disclosure vulnerability is classified as CWE-200, which encompasses issues where sensitive information is exposed to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security design principles where the server fails to properly sanitize incoming network requests, allowing malicious actors to enumerate system resources through carefully constructed network traffic patterns that exploit the server's response mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical reconnaissance data that could facilitate subsequent attacks. The leaked path and filename information could enable attackers to map the server's file system structure, identify sensitive configuration files, locate executable programs, and discover potential weak points in the system architecture. This reconnaissance capability aligns with the ATT&CK framework's reconnaissance phase, specifically covering techniques related to enumeration and discovery of system information. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only network access to the target server, making it particularly dangerous in environments where industrial control systems may have inadequate network segmentation or where perimeter security is insufficient. The fact that no public exploitation was known at the time of advisory publication does not diminish its severity, as this information disclosure could serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-18331 should focus on network-level protections and application-level hardening measures. Organizations should implement strict network segmentation to limit access to TCP port 1099, ensuring that only authorized systems can communicate with the Application Server. The use of firewalls and access control lists should be configured to restrict incoming connections to this port to specific IP addresses or network ranges. Additionally, system administrators should consider disabling unnecessary services and ports that are not required for operational functionality, following the principle of least privilege. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar information disclosure vulnerabilities throughout the industrial control system infrastructure. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing proper error handling and response mechanisms within industrial applications, ensuring that system responses do not inadvertently reveal sensitive system information to unauthorized parties.