CVE-2020-27255 in FactoryTalk Linx
Summary
by MITRE • 11/26/2020
A heap overflow vulnerability exists within FactoryTalk Linx Version 6.11 and prior. This vulnerability could allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to send malicious set attribute requests, which could result in the leaking of sensitive information. This information disclosure could lead to the bypass of address space layout randomization (ASLR).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2020
The heap overflow vulnerability identified in FactoryTalk Linx Version 6.11 and prior represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of industrial automation systems. This vulnerability resides within the software's handling of set attribute requests, which are fundamental operations used to configure and manage device parameters within the industrial control environment. The flaw enables remote exploitation without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for operational technology infrastructure where security controls may be less stringent than in traditional enterprise environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the FactoryTalk Linx application. When processing maliciously crafted set attribute requests, the software fails to properly bounds-check heap memory allocations, leading to buffer overflow conditions that can overwrite adjacent memory segments. This heap corruption creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow and extract sensitive information from memory regions that should remain protected. The vulnerability specifically targets the address space layout randomization mechanisms that are designed to prevent exploitation techniques such as return-oriented programming and function pointer overwrites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked memory contents can be leveraged to bypass critical security mitigations such as address space layout randomization. Attackers can extract memory addresses of system libraries, stack locations, and other sensitive data that would normally be randomized to prevent exploitation. This information leakage creates a pathway for more sophisticated attacks that could potentially lead to complete system compromise, particularly in environments where FactoryTalk Linx serves as a critical component of industrial control systems. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or network credentials.
Organizations utilizing FactoryTalk Linx software should prioritize immediate remediation through official vendor patches and updates. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a significant risk to industrial control system security. Security teams should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous set attribute request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under initial access and privilege escalation techniques, making it particularly concerning for critical infrastructure environments where the potential for cascading failures exists. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their industrial control systems to identify other potential entry points and ensure proper network isolation of operational technology environments.