CVE-2021-38395 in Experion PKS C200
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2022
Honeywell Experion PKS C200, C200E, C300, and ACE controllers are vulnerable to improper neutralization of special elements in output, which may allow an attacker to remotely execute arbitrary code and cause a denial-of-service condition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-38395 affects Honeywell Experion PKS controllers including models C200, C200E, C300, and ACE systems. These industrial control devices operate within critical infrastructure environments where security is paramount for operational continuity and safety. The affected systems are part of the Experion PKS (Process Knowledge System) platform, which serves as a foundational component for process control and automation in industrial environments. These controllers are typically deployed in manufacturing plants, oil and gas facilities, and other critical infrastructure sectors where unauthorized access could result in significant operational disruptions or safety hazards. The vulnerability resides in how these controllers handle special elements in output processing, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by remote adversaries.
This security flaw represents an improper neutralization of special elements in output, which falls under the CWE-116 category of improper neutralization of special elements. The technical nature of this vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate input data in such a way that special characters or control sequences are not properly sanitized before being processed by the system's output mechanisms. When these improperly handled elements reach the controller's processing units, they can trigger unexpected behavior that leads to arbitrary code execution. The flaw essentially creates a code injection pathway where malicious input can be interpreted and executed as legitimate commands within the controller's operational environment. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in industrial control systems where such execution could lead to unauthorized changes in process parameters or system behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to include potential denial-of-service conditions that could severely disrupt industrial operations. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can potentially cause the affected controllers to crash or become unresponsive, leading to complete system outages that may require manual intervention to restore normal operations. In critical infrastructure environments, such disruptions could result in production halts, safety system failures, or even environmental hazards depending on the industrial process being controlled. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not need physical access to the facility, allowing them to target these systems from anywhere with network connectivity. This vulnerability essentially undermines the fundamental security assumptions of industrial control systems, where physical security and network isolation were traditionally considered sufficient protections against remote attacks.
Organizations utilizing these Honeywell Experion PKS controllers should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate these critical systems from general network access, deployment of network monitoring solutions to detect anomalous traffic patterns, and implementation of strict input validation procedures for all data entering the controller systems. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to command and control through code injection and privilege escalation, making it particularly concerning for industrial environments where attackers could leverage this to gain deeper system access. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any additional weaknesses in the industrial control system architecture. Patch management procedures should be established and tested to ensure timely deployment of vendor-provided security updates. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems specifically designed for industrial environments can help detect exploitation attempts before they result in operational disruptions. The vulnerability underscores the importance of applying defense-in-depth strategies in industrial control systems, where traditional network security measures alone are insufficient to protect against sophisticated attacks targeting operational technology infrastructure.