CVE-2019-9013 in CODESYS Control V3
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in 3S-Smart CODESYS V3 products. The application may utilize non-TLS based encryption, which results in user credentials being insufficiently protected during transport. All variants of the following CODESYS V3 products in all versions containing the CmpUserMgr component are affected regardless of the CPU type or operating system: CODESYS Control for BeagleBone, CODESYS Control for emPC-A/iMX6, CODESYS Control for IOT2000, CODESYS Control for Linux, CODESYS Control for PFC100, CODESYS Control for PFC200, CODESYS Control for Raspberry Pi, CODESYS Control RTE V3, CODESYS Control RTE V3 (for Beckhoff CX), CODESYS Control Win V3 (also part of the CODESYS Development System setup), CODESYS V3 Simulation Runtime (part of the CODESYS Development System), CODESYS Control V3 Runtime System Toolkit, CODESYS HMI V3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9013 affects the 3S-Smart CODESYS V3 product line, specifically targeting the CmpUserMgr component across numerous industrial control and automation platforms. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the communication protocols used by these embedded systems, which are widely deployed in industrial environments for process control and automation. The affected products include various CODESYS Control implementations for different hardware platforms including BeagleBone, Raspberry Pi, IOT2000, and multiple PFC series controllers, along with the development system components and simulation runtimes. The vulnerability impacts all versions of these products regardless of the underlying CPU architecture or operating system, indicating a systemic issue within the software design rather than a platform-specific flaw.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the application's reliance on non-TLS based encryption mechanisms for protecting user credentials during network transmission. This design decision exposes sensitive authentication information to potential interception and unauthorized access. When users authenticate to these industrial control systems, their credentials are transmitted over networks without proper encryption, making them susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks and network traffic analysis. The flaw essentially undermines the fundamental security principle of protecting authentication data in transit, creating a pathway for attackers to capture and potentially reuse user credentials for unauthorized system access. This weakness directly corresponds to CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic issues and insufficient encryption strength in security protocols.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as industrial control systems represent critical infrastructure components where unauthorized access can lead to severe operational disruptions, safety hazards, and potential physical damage. In industrial environments, these systems control manufacturing processes, power generation, and other critical operations where compromised credentials could enable attackers to manipulate process controls, alter production parameters, or gain persistent access to operational technology networks. The widespread deployment of affected CODESYS products across various industrial sectors increases the potential attack surface significantly. The vulnerability's presence in both development and runtime components means that attackers could potentially compromise the entire development and deployment pipeline, affecting not just operational systems but also the integrity of the software development lifecycle. This scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through credential compromise.
Organizations utilizing these affected CODESYS products should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability. The most effective approach involves upgrading to patched versions of the affected software components, as provided by 3S-Smart. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts and credential interception. Additional protective measures include implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious authentication patterns and ensuring that all communication channels are properly secured with TLS encryption. Security teams should conduct comprehensive assessments of their industrial control environments to identify all instances of affected software and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk exposure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of cryptographic security in industrial control systems and highlights the need for robust security practices in operational technology environments where traditional cybersecurity measures may not be sufficient to protect against sophisticated attacks targeting critical infrastructure assets.