CVE-2021-34562 in WirelessHART-Gateway
Summary
by MITRE • 08/31/2021
In PEPPERL+FUCHS WirelessHART-Gateway 3.0.8 it is possible to inject arbitrary JavaScript into the application's response.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-34562 affects the PEPPERL+FUCHS WirelessHART-Gateway version 3.0.8, representing a critical security flaw that allows attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the application's response. This issue falls under the category of cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, specifically classified as CWE-79 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which details the dangerous practice of incorporating untrusted data into web pages without proper validation or sanitization. The affected device operates within industrial automation environments, where it serves as a gateway for WirelessHART network communications, making the security implications particularly severe given the critical infrastructure context.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the gateway's web interface components. When the device processes certain user inputs or parameters, it fails to properly sanitize the data before including it in HTTP responses sent to client browsers. This vulnerability enables an attacker to craft malicious payloads that, when executed in the context of a victim's browser, can manipulate the web application's behavior, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further exploitation of the industrial network. The attack vector typically involves manipulating parameters in HTTP requests that are then reflected back to the user without adequate security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple web application compromise, as it directly threatens the integrity and security of industrial control systems. In industrial environments where PEPPERL+FUCHS gateways are deployed, the ability to inject JavaScript code provides attackers with a foothold that could potentially escalate to full system compromise. The gateway serves as a critical communication bridge between wireless sensor networks and enterprise systems, making it an attractive target for adversaries seeking to disrupt industrial operations or gain unauthorized access to sensitive operational data. This vulnerability particularly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers spearphishing through social engineering, as attackers could potentially use this flaw to deliver malicious payloads through web-based attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-34562 should focus on immediate patching of the affected firmware version, as PEPPERL+FUCHS has released updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the gateway to authorized personnel only, deploy web application firewalls to detect and prevent injection attempts, and conduct thorough security assessments of all industrial web interfaces. Additionally, regular security monitoring and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar issues in other industrial control system components, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for proper input validation in all web-facing industrial applications. The remediation process must also include comprehensive staff training on industrial cybersecurity best practices to prevent social engineering attacks that could exploit this vulnerability.