CVE-2021-3095 in PI Vision
Summary
by MITRE • 12/28/2021
A remote attacker with write access to PI Vision could inject code into a display. Unauthorized information disclosure, modification, or deletion is possible if a victim views or interacts with the infected display using Microsoft Internet Explorer. The impact affects PI System data and other data accessible with victim’s user permissions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2021
This vulnerability resides within the PI Vision component of the OSIsoft PI System, a critical industrial monitoring and data acquisition platform widely deployed in process control environments. The flaw represents a server-side request forgery vulnerability that allows an attacker with write privileges to a PI Vision display to inject malicious code into the display content. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-917, specifically the weakness related to "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command," which enables attackers to manipulate system processes through crafted inputs. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the trust relationship between the PI Vision system and Microsoft Internet Explorer, exploiting the browser's handling of potentially malicious content within the display context. When a victim interacts with the compromised display, the injected code executes within the context of the user's session, potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive industrial data and system controls.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess write permissions to a PI Vision display, which typically represents a lower privilege level than full system access but still provides sufficient capability to compromise the system. The attack vector involves crafting malicious content that gets embedded into the display configuration, which then executes when users view the display through Internet Explorer. This represents a classic cross-site scripting scenario where the malicious payload is stored server-side and executed client-side, with the attacker leveraging the victim's session context to perform unauthorized actions. The vulnerability impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PI System data, potentially allowing for data exfiltration, modification of critical process parameters, or complete system compromise depending on the victim's access rights. The exploitation process aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically the "Phishing for Information" sub-technique, where attackers manipulate display content to trick users into executing malicious code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise to potentially affect industrial control systems and operational technology environments where PI Vision serves as a critical monitoring interface. Organizations using this system may face unauthorized modification of process control parameters, leading to operational disruptions or safety hazards in industrial environments. The vulnerability's reliance on user interaction through Internet Explorer makes it particularly dangerous in environments where operators frequently view PI Vision displays, as the attack can occur without direct system compromise or network-level access. The affected data includes not only PI System metrics and historical data but also any other information accessible through the victim's user permissions, potentially exposing sensitive operational data, intellectual property, or system configuration details. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly in industrial control environments where security controls may be less stringent than in traditional enterprise environments. The attack scenario represents a significant risk to industrial cybersecurity posture, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges through manipulation of display content, potentially leading to complete system compromise and operational disruption.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing strict input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied content within PI Vision displays, ensuring that any data entering the system is properly encoded and validated against known safe patterns. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to PI Vision systems and restrict write permissions to only authorized personnel with legitimate business requirements. Browser security configurations should be hardened to prevent execution of potentially malicious content, including disabling unnecessary plugins and ensuring proper security zones are configured. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in industrial control system components. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and monitoring for unauthorized modifications to display configurations can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of securing all components within industrial control systems, as even seemingly benign interfaces can serve as entry points for sophisticated attacks that can compromise entire operational environments.