CVE-2019-6008 in Exaopc
Summary
by MITRE
An unquoted search path vulnerability in Multiple Yokogawa products for Windows (Exaopc (R1.01.00 ? R3.77.00), Exaplog (R1.10.00 ? R3.40.00), Exaquantum (R1.10.00 ? R3.02.00 and R3.15.00), Exaquantum/Batch (R1.01.00 ? R2.50.40), Exasmoc (all revisions), Exarqe (all revisions), GA10 (R1.01.01 ? R3.05.01), and InsightSuiteAE (R1.01.00 ? R1.06.00)) allow local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse executable file and execute arbitrary code with eleveted privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-6008 represents a critical unquoted search path weakness affecting multiple Yokogawa Windows-based industrial software products. This flaw exists within the executable search path configuration of several Yokogawa applications including Exaopc, Exaplog, Exaquantum, Exasmoc, Exarqe, GA10, and InsightSuiteAE across their respective version ranges. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of executable file paths during application startup, creating a security risk that can be exploited by local attackers to execute malicious code with elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the Windows operating system's search path resolution mechanism failing to properly quote directory paths containing spaces. When Yokogawa applications attempt to locate required executables or libraries, they traverse the system PATH environment variable without proper path quoting. This allows an attacker to place a malicious executable file in a directory that appears earlier in the search path, causing the legitimate application to execute the attacker's code instead of the intended program. The vulnerability specifically affects installations where directory names contain spaces and are not properly quoted in the search path configuration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to represent a significant threat to industrial control systems and operational technology environments. Local users with basic system access can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially leading to system compromise, data manipulation, or disruption of critical industrial processes. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where Yokogawa software is deployed for process control, data acquisition, and industrial monitoring applications, making it a serious concern for organizations maintaining operational technology infrastructure. The risk is compounded by the fact that these applications often run with elevated privileges to perform their industrial control functions.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including proper PATH environment variable configuration with quoted directory paths, regular security updates from Yokogawa, and implementation of least privilege access controls. System administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify affected installations and ensure all Yokogawa applications are updated to versions that address this unquoted search path vulnerability. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-428, which describes the weakness of unquoted search paths, and represents a technique commonly used in privilege escalation attacks categorized under ATT&CK technique T1068. Regular monitoring and patch management procedures should be enhanced to prevent exploitation of similar path traversal vulnerabilities in industrial control systems, as these applications often form critical components of cyber-physical systems requiring robust security controls.