CVE-2020-7592 in SIMATIC HMI Basic Panel
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability has been identified in SIMATIC HMI Basic Panels 1st Generation (incl. SIPLUS variants) (All versions), SIMATIC HMI Basic Panels 2nd Generation (incl. SIPLUS variants) (All versions), SIMATIC HMI Comfort Panels (incl. SIPLUS variants) (All versions), SIMATIC HMI KTP700F Mobile Arctic (All versions), SIMATIC HMI Mobile Panels 2nd Generation (All versions), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Advanced (All versions). Unencrypted communication between the configuration software and the respective device could allow an attacker to capture potential plain text communication and have access to sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-7592 affects a range of Siemens HMI devices including basic panels, comfort panels, mobile panels, and WinCC runtime environments across multiple generations. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the communication protocols used by these industrial control systems, specifically targeting the configuration and communication interfaces that are fundamental to operational technology infrastructure. The affected devices are widely deployed in industrial environments where they control critical processes and systems, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a cybersecurity perspective.
The technical flaw manifests as the absence of encryption in communication channels between configuration software and the target devices. This unencrypted communication exposes sensitive data transmitted during the configuration and operational phases of these HMI systems. The vulnerability allows attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks or eavesdropping operations on network traffic, potentially capturing plaintext credentials, configuration parameters, operational data, and other confidential information that flows between the configuration tools and the HMI devices. The lack of encryption means that all transmitted data remains in clear text, making it easily readable to any entity with access to the network traffic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of industrial control systems. Attackers who can intercept this unencrypted communication may gain unauthorized access to system configurations, operational parameters, and potentially sensitive operational data that could be used for further attacks or system compromise. This vulnerability directly affects the confidentiality and integrity of industrial communication channels, which are critical for maintaining operational security in manufacturing and industrial environments. The affected devices span multiple generations and variants, indicating a widespread issue that affects various deployment scenarios across different industrial sectors.
Organizations should immediately implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential interception attempts on the affected communication channels. The recommended mitigations include implementing encryption protocols such as TLS or IPSec for all communication between configuration tools and HMI devices, deploying network intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious traffic patterns, and conducting comprehensive network audits to identify all affected devices within the operational technology environment. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network access controls and authentication mechanisms that do not rely solely on clear text communication, as outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and aligned with CWE-310 standards for cryptographic weaknesses. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol and T1566 for credential access, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures across industrial control system environments.