CVE-2020-10640 in OpenEnterprise
Summary
by MITRE • 02/24/2022
Emerson OpenEnterprise versions through 3.3.4 may allow an attacker to run an arbitrary commands with system privileges or perform remote code execution via a specific communication service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-10640 affects Emerson OpenEnterprise software versions up to 3.3.4 and represents a critical remote code execution flaw that could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands with system-level privileges. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation within a specific communication service component that processes external data inputs without adequate sanitization or authorization checks. The affected service appears to handle network communications in a manner that fails to properly validate or sanitize incoming payloads, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary code on the target system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a command injection flaw that occurs when the communication service processes untrusted input from network connections. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable service, result in arbitrary command execution on the underlying operating system with the privileges of the service account. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection and code injection weaknesses respectively, which are fundamental security flaws that enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on target systems. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and sanitization practices that are essential for preventing malicious input from being interpreted as executable commands.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to potentially compromise entire industrial control systems and operational technology environments. Organizations using Emerson OpenEnterprise software in critical infrastructure settings face significant risk of system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential operational disruption. The ability to execute commands with system privileges means that attackers could potentially escalate their access to full system control, modify critical configuration files, install backdoors, or disrupt industrial processes. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where industrial systems are connected to corporate networks, as it could serve as a foothold for broader network infiltration and lateral movement attacks. The attack surface is amplified by the fact that the vulnerability exists within a communication service that may be exposed to external networks, making it accessible to remote attackers without requiring physical access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-10640 should focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Emerson to address the specific command injection flaw in the communication service. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the vulnerable service and consider firewall rules that restrict communication to only trusted sources. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by running the affected service with minimal required privileges rather than system-level permissions. Additionally, network monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect suspicious communication patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other industrial control system components. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and sanitization practices in their own applications and services to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in custom code. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patches in controlled environments before deployment to production systems to ensure that updates do not introduce unintended operational impacts.