CVE-2022-24315 in Interactive Graphical SCADA System Data Server
Summary
by MITRE • 02/10/2022
A CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability exists that could cause denial of service when an attacker repeatedly sends a specially crafted message. Affected Product: Interactive Graphical SCADA System Data Server (V15.0.0.22020 and prior)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2022
The CVE-2022-24315 vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw classified under CWE-125 within the Interactive Graphical SCADA System Data Server version 15.0.0.22020 and earlier releases. This vulnerability manifests as a memory access error that occurs when the system processes specially crafted messages, fundamentally compromising the integrity of the application's memory management mechanisms. The affected SCADA system serves as a critical infrastructure component for industrial control systems, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for operational technology environments where system reliability and continuous operation are paramount.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking within the data server's message processing routines. When an attacker sends repeated maliciously constructed messages to the system, the application fails to properly validate the boundaries of memory allocations, leading to attempts to read data beyond the allocated buffer space. This memory access violation can trigger unexpected system behavior including application crashes, memory corruption, or complete system hang conditions that result in denial of service. The vulnerability is exacerbated by the repetitive nature of the attack, where multiple crafted messages can compound the memory access errors and increase the likelihood of successful exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-24315 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire industrial control environment. In SCADA systems, where continuous operation is critical for process control and safety monitoring, a denial of service condition can lead to production halts, safety system failures, or cascading effects throughout the industrial network. The vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.001 for network denial of service and represents a significant risk to industrial cybersecurity frameworks. Organizations utilizing this data server version face potential operational disruptions that could affect critical infrastructure such as power generation, water treatment, or manufacturing processes where the SCADA system provides essential data processing capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected system to version 15.0.0.22021 or later, which includes proper input validation and boundary checking mechanisms. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the affected data server to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous message patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing rate limiting and message validation protocols can help reduce the impact of repetitive attack patterns. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their industrial control systems to identify other potential vulnerabilities in similar components and ensure proper security hardening practices are maintained. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust memory safety practices in industrial control systems and aligns with NIST SP 800-82 guidelines for industrial control system security.