CVE-2022-26648 in SCALANCE X200-4P IRT
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2022
A vulnerability has been identified in SCALANCE X200-4P IRT (All versions), SCALANCE X200-4P IRT (All versions), SCALANCE X201-3P IRT (All versions), SCALANCE X201-3P IRT (All versions), SCALANCE X201-3P IRT PRO (All versions), SCALANCE X201-3P IRT PRO (All versions), SCALANCE X202-2IRT (All versions), SCALANCE X202-2IRT (All versions), SCALANCE X202-2P IRT (All versions), SCALANCE X202-2P IRT (All versions), SCALANCE X202-2P IRT PRO (All versions), SCALANCE X202-2P IRT PRO (All versions), SCALANCE X204-2 (All versions < V5.2.6), SCALANCE X204-2FM (All versions < V5.2.6), SCALANCE X204-2LD (All versions < V5.2.6), SCALANCE X204-2LD TS (All versions < V5.2.6), SCALANCE X204-2TS (All versions < V5.2.6), SCALANCE X204IRT (All versions), SCALANCE X204IRT (All versions), SCALANCE X204IRT PRO (All versions), SCALANCE X204IRT PRO (All versions), SCALANCE X206-1 (All versions < V5.2.6), SCALANCE X206-1LD (All versions < V5.2.6), SCALANCE X208 (All versions < V5.2.6), SCALANCE X208PRO (All versions < V5.2.6), SCALANCE X212-2 (All versions < V5.2.6), SCALANCE X212-2LD (All versions < V5.2.6), SCALANCE X216 (All versions < V5.2.6), SCALANCE X224 (All versions < V5.2.6), SCALANCE XF201-3P IRT (All versions), SCALANCE XF202-2P IRT (All versions), SCALANCE XF204 (All versions < V5.2.6), SCALANCE XF204-2 (All versions < V5.2.6), SCALANCE XF204-2BA IRT (All versions), SCALANCE XF204IRT (All versions), SCALANCE XF204IRT (All versions), SCALANCE XF206-1 (All versions < V5.2.6), SCALANCE XF208 (All versions < V5.2.6). Affected devices do not properly validate the GET parameter XNo of incoming HTTP requests. This could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to crash affected devices.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2022
This vulnerability affects a wide range of Siemens SCALANCE industrial networking devices including various models from the X200, X201, X202, X204, X206, X208, X212, X216, X224, and XF series. The flaw resides in the HTTP server implementation of these industrial communication devices where the GET parameter XNo in incoming HTTP requests is not properly validated. This represents a classic input validation weakness that falls under CWE-20, which describes improper input validation in software systems. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to exploit the device's HTTP service by crafting malicious HTTP requests containing malformed or unexpected XNo parameter values. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in industrial environments where operational technology (OT) systems are increasingly connected to corporate networks, creating potential attack vectors that could disrupt critical infrastructure operations.
The technical impact of this vulnerability manifests as a remote crash of the affected devices, which can lead to complete service disruption in industrial network environments. When an attacker sends a specially crafted HTTP request with an invalid XNo parameter, the device's HTTP server fails to properly handle the malformed input and subsequently crashes or becomes unresponsive. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, which deals with insufficient validation of the length or value of input data, and can be classified as a form of denial of service attack. The attack requires no authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous as any remote attacker with network access can potentially exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability affects all versions of the impacted devices prior to version 5.2.6, indicating that this was a known issue that required firmware updates to remediate.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-26648 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromising industrial control systems and operational technology infrastructure. In manufacturing environments, SCALANCE devices serve as critical network connectivity points between field devices and enterprise networks, making their reliability essential for continuous operations. When these devices crash due to the vulnerability, it can result in communication failures between controllers and sensors, leading to production halts, quality control issues, and potential safety hazards in industrial processes. The vulnerability's presence in multiple device models suggests that organizations with extensive Siemens SCALANCE deployments face a significant risk exposure across their industrial networks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which covers network disruption attacks, and T1566.001, which covers spearphishing with a link, as attackers could potentially use this vulnerability as part of a broader attack campaign targeting industrial control systems.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies to protect their industrial environments from exploitation of this vulnerability. The primary recommended action is to upgrade all affected devices to firmware versions 5.2.6 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the improper input validation issue. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks. Implementing network monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts through anomalous HTTP traffic patterns. Security teams should also consider disabling HTTP services on devices where they are not strictly required, as this reduces the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current firmware versions and implementing proper network security controls in industrial environments, as outlined in NIST SP 800-82 guidelines for industrial control systems security. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar input validation issues in other industrial network components and ensure comprehensive protection against remote exploitation attempts.