CVE-2020-13530 in OpENer
Summary
by MITRE • 12/11/2020
A denial-of-service vulnerability exists in the Ethernet/IP server functionality of the EIP Stack Group OpENer 2.3 and development commit 8c73bf3. A large number of network requests in a small span of time can cause the running program to stop. An attacker can send a sequence of requests to trigger this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-13530 represents a critical denial-of-service weakness within the Ethernet/IP server implementation of the OpENer EIP Stack software version 2.3 and associated development commit 8c73bf3. This flaw manifests specifically in the handling of network requests within the Ethernet/IP server functionality, creating a scenario where legitimate system operation can be disrupted through carefully crafted network traffic patterns. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and resource management within the server component that processes incoming Ethernet/IP requests, particularly when confronted with high-volume request sequences.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the deliberate submission of numerous network requests within a compressed timeframe, which overwhelms the server's processing capabilities and ultimately causes the program to terminate unexpectedly. This behavior aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes the vulnerability as a resource exhaustion issue, specifically manifesting as a denial-of-service condition. The flaw does not require authentication or specialized privileges for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where the Ethernet/IP server may be exposed to untrusted network traffic. The vulnerability exists in the protocol handling layer of the EIP Stack, where incoming requests are processed without sufficient rate limiting or resource allocation controls to prevent system exhaustion.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to industrial control systems and automation environments that rely on Ethernet/IP communication protocols. The denial-of-service condition can result in complete disruption of industrial processes, potentially leading to production halts, safety system failures, or cascading effects throughout connected equipment. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as many industrial environments operate with minimal redundancy, making system crashes particularly problematic. This vulnerability directly affects the availability aspect of the CIA triad, compromising the system's ability to provide continuous service to legitimate users and processes.
The exploitation pattern for this vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which describes network denial of service attacks targeting network infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this weakness through automated tools to send sustained request sequences that overwhelm the target system's processing capabilities. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in environments where the affected system serves as a communication bridge between industrial devices and control systems, as disruption can propagate throughout the entire operational technology infrastructure. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing network-level rate limiting, firewall rules to restrict access to the Ethernet/IP server, and regular system updates to patch the identified vulnerability.
Security practitioners should consider implementing network segmentation to isolate systems running the vulnerable EIP Stack software from critical operational networks. Additionally, monitoring for unusual request patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and resource management in industrial communication protocols, as highlighted by CWE-129 and CWE-770 categories that address improper input validation and resource management issues. Organizations should prioritize updating to patched versions of the OpENer EIP Stack software and conducting thorough vulnerability assessments of their industrial control systems to identify similar weaknesses in other protocol implementations.