CVE-2019-6567 in Scalance X-200
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability has been identified in SCALANCE X-200 (All Versions < V5.2.4), SCALANCE X-200IRT (All versions), SCALANCE X-300 (All versions), SCALANCE X-414-3E (All versions). The affected devices store passwords in a recoverable format. An attacker may extract and recover device passwords from the device configuration. Successful exploitation requires access to a device configuration backup and impacts confidentiality of the stored passwords. At the time of advisory publication no public exploitation of this security vulnerability was known.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2023
This vulnerability affects industrial network devices including SCALANCE X-200 series, X-200IRT, X-300, and X-414-3E models, all of which store passwords in recoverable formats within device configurations. The flaw represents a critical weakness in the security architecture of these industrial control systems, as it allows unauthorized parties to extract authentication credentials that could compromise network access and operational integrity. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-256 as "Incomplete Password Recovery or Reset Function" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001 for "Credentials in Files" which describes how adversaries can obtain credentials from files on compromised systems. The affected devices are part of Siemens' industrial networking infrastructure, commonly deployed in critical infrastructure environments where security is paramount.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when device configuration backups are created and stored, as these backups contain password hashes or plaintext credentials that can be easily extracted and recovered by attackers with access to the configuration files. This design decision violates fundamental security principles that require password storage to use strong cryptographic hashing with proper salting mechanisms. The vulnerability exists because the system does not implement proper password obfuscation or encryption during the configuration backup process, creating a persistent exposure point that remains valid even after the device has been rebooted or reconfigured. The lack of encryption or obfuscation in the configuration storage means that any individual with access to backup files can directly retrieve authentication credentials without requiring complex exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as compromised passwords can provide attackers with persistent access to industrial control networks and potentially enable further lateral movement within the facility. An attacker who gains access to a device configuration backup can immediately establish unauthorized access to the network, potentially leading to disruption of critical operations, data exfiltration, or even physical system manipulation in environments where industrial control systems are connected to operational technology networks. The confidentiality breach affects not just the individual device passwords but potentially the entire network security posture of the facility, as these credentials may be used to access multiple interconnected systems. This vulnerability particularly impacts environments following industrial standards such as IEC 62443 and NIST SP 800-82, where secure credential management is essential for protecting industrial control systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of device firmware updates to versions V5.2.4 or later, which address the insecure password storage mechanism. Organizations should also implement strict access controls on configuration backup files, ensuring that these sensitive files are stored in encrypted formats and maintained with appropriate permissions. Network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to critical network segments, and regular security audits should verify that no plaintext credentials are present in configuration files. The remediation process should include decommissioning older device versions that cannot be updated and implementing proper backup management policies that prevent unauthorized access to configuration files. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing privileged access management solutions to reduce the attack surface and ensure that even if credentials are compromised, lateral movement within the network is restricted. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices for industrial control systems and demonstrates how seemingly simple implementation flaws can create significant security risks in critical infrastructure environments.