CVE-2021-34563 in WirelessHART-Gateway
Summary
by MITRE • 08/31/2021
In PEPPERL+FUCHS WirelessHART-Gateway 3.0.8 and 3.0.9 the HttpOnly attribute is not set on a cookie. This allows the cookie's value to be read or set by client-side JavaScript.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-34563 affects PEPPERL+FUCHS WirelessHART-Gateway versions 3.0.8 and 3.0.9, representing a critical security flaw in web application security controls. This issue stems from the improper configuration of HTTP cookies within the gateway's web interface, specifically the absence of the HttpOnly attribute that should be implemented to prevent client-side script access to sensitive session data. The vulnerability creates a significant risk for industrial control systems that rely on this wireless gateway for communication and monitoring purposes.
The technical flaw manifests when web applications fail to set the HttpOnly flag on session cookies, allowing malicious JavaScript code executed within the browser to access cookie values through client-side scripting interfaces. This weakness directly violates fundamental web security principles and creates a pathway for cross-site scripting attacks that can escalate to session hijacking and unauthorized access to the industrial gateway's administrative functions. The absence of this protective attribute means that any JavaScript code running in the browser context can read and potentially modify cookie contents, undermining the security boundary between the user interface and backend systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond typical web application risks, particularly in industrial environments where PEPPERL+FUCHS WirelessHART-Gateway devices serve as critical communication nodes for process control and monitoring systems. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to gateway administrative interfaces, potentially leading to disruption of industrial processes, data manipulation, or unauthorized configuration changes that could compromise plant safety and operational integrity. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects wireless communication infrastructure that often operates in environments with limited network segmentation and security monitoring capabilities.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the WirelessHART-Gateway software, ensuring all session cookies are properly configured with the HttpOnly attribute, and implementing additional network security controls such as web application firewalls and network segmentation. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their industrial control system components to identify similar misconfigurations that could create analogous security risks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-1004 which addresses insecure cookie attributes and represents a classic example of how basic security controls can be overlooked in industrial environments, potentially creating attack vectors that align with tactics described in the ATT&CK framework under credential access and privilege escalation categories. The issue demonstrates the critical importance of applying standard web security practices even to industrial control systems that may not traditionally be considered part of the IT security domain.