CVE-2021-41579 in LAquis SCADA
Summary
by MITRE • 10/04/2021
LCDS LAquis SCADA through 4.3.1.1085 is vulnerable to a control bypass and path traversal. If an attacker can get a victim to load a malicious els project file and use the play feature, then the attacker can bypass a consent popup and write arbitrary files to OS locations where the user has permission, leading to code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-41579 affects LCDS LAquis SCADA software version 4.3.1.1085 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk that combines control bypass and path traversal mechanisms. This vulnerability resides within the software's handling of els project files and the play feature functionality, creating a dangerous attack surface that can be exploited through social engineering tactics. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the application's normal execution flow by leveraging a malicious project file that, when loaded and executed through the play feature, enables unauthorized actions that should normally be restricted.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and inadequate access control mechanisms within the LAquis SCADA application. When a user loads a specially crafted els project file and subsequently invokes the play feature, the software fails to properly validate file paths and execution contexts, allowing attackers to bypass the consent popup that would normally prevent arbitrary file operations. This control bypass mechanism operates at the application level where the software's security model is circumvented, enabling attackers to write files to arbitrary locations within the operating system where the user has write permissions. The path traversal component of the vulnerability allows attackers to navigate beyond intended directories and access restricted file system locations.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-41579 extends beyond simple file manipulation to encompass full code execution capabilities within the victim's security context. Since attackers can write arbitrary files to locations where the user has permissions, they can potentially place malicious executables, scripts, or configuration files that will be executed when the application runs or when the user performs specific actions. This vulnerability represents a significant threat to industrial control systems and supervisory control and data acquisition environments where LAquis SCADA is deployed, as it can lead to unauthorized system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential disruption of critical infrastructure operations. The attack requires user interaction through social engineering to convince victims to load the malicious project file, but once executed, the consequences can be severe.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-345 Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity, which directly relate to the path traversal and control bypass aspects of the flaw. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, as the vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code through legitimate application interfaces. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including user education to avoid loading untrusted project files, application whitelisting to restrict which files can be executed, and network segmentation to limit lateral movement. Additionally, regular security updates and patches should be applied as soon as vendor releases are available, and the application should be configured to disable the play feature or implement additional verification mechanisms for project file loading. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices in industrial control systems and highlights the need for robust input validation and access control mechanisms in applications handling sensitive operational data.