CVE-2022-21798 in Proficy CIMPLICITY
Summary
by MITRE • 02/25/2022
The affected product is vulnerable due to cleartext transmission of credentials seen in the CIMPLICITY network, which can be easily spoofed and used to log in to make operational changes to the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2022-21798 represents a critical security flaw in the CIMPLICITY network system that exposes authentication credentials through unencrypted transmission channels. This weakness allows attackers to intercept sensitive information during network communication, creating a significant risk for industrial control systems and operational technology environments. The vulnerability specifically affects the way credentials are transmitted within the CIMPLICITY network infrastructure, where authentication data flows in cleartext format without proper encryption mechanisms.
This technical flaw fundamentally undermines the security posture of affected systems by creating an attack surface where malicious actors can easily capture authentication tokens and session information. The cleartext transmission exposes credentials to man-in-the-middle attacks, network sniffing operations, and other passive reconnaissance techniques that are commonly employed by threat actors targeting industrial control systems. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext transmission, making it a direct violation of fundamental security principles for credential handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass potential system compromise and unauthorized operational changes. Attackers who successfully intercept these credentials can gain legitimate access to the CIMPLICITY network and execute malicious operations including but not limited to modifying operational parameters, altering system configurations, or disrupting critical processes. This risk is particularly concerning in industrial environments where operational technology systems control physical processes and safety mechanisms, as unauthorized changes can lead to significant operational disruptions, safety hazards, or financial losses.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1075 which covers the use of legitimate credentials to gain access to systems. The ease with which attackers can spoof and utilize these credentials makes this vulnerability particularly attractive for threat actors targeting industrial control systems. The attack vector is relatively straightforward requiring only basic network monitoring capabilities to capture the cleartext credentials, making this a common target for both sophisticated and less technically skilled attackers.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including the deployment of encrypted communication protocols such as TLS/SSL for all network communications involving authentication data. The implementation of network segmentation and monitoring solutions can help detect unusual credential usage patterns that might indicate compromise. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive network audits to identify all instances of cleartext credential transmission and prioritize the implementation of secure authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of following industrial security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-82 and IEC 62443 standards, which specifically address secure communication practices in industrial control systems. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that authentication mechanisms remain secure against evolving attack techniques.