CVE-2022-27481 in SCALANCE W1788-1 M12
Summary
by MITRE • 04/12/2022
A vulnerability has been identified in SCALANCE W1788-1 M12 (All versions < V3.0.0), SCALANCE W1788-2 EEC M12 (All versions < V3.0.0), SCALANCE W1788-2 M12 (All versions < V3.0.0), SCALANCE W1788-2IA M12 (All versions < V3.0.0). Affected devices do not properly handle resources of ARP requests. This could allow an attacker to cause a race condition that leads to a crash of the entire device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2022-27481 affects Siemens SCALANCE W1788 series industrial network switches including models W1788-1 M12, W1788-2 EEC M12, W1788-2 M12, and W1788-2IA M12. These devices operate in critical industrial environments where network reliability is paramount for operational technology systems. The affected versions prior to V3.0.0 contain a flaw in how the devices process Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) requests, which represents a significant security concern for industrial control systems. This vulnerability falls under CWE-362, which describes a race condition error that occurs when multiple threads or processes attempt to access shared resources concurrently without proper synchronization mechanisms. The improper handling of ARP request resources creates an exploitable condition that can lead to device instability and potential operational disruption in industrial settings.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate resource management within the ARP processing subsystem of these industrial switches. When an attacker crafts malicious ARP requests or floods the device with rapid ARP traffic, the switch fails to properly synchronize access to shared memory resources or processing queues. This race condition scenario allows the device to enter an inconsistent state where memory corruption or resource exhaustion occurs, ultimately resulting in a complete device crash. The flaw specifically manifests during the processing of ARP request packets, where the device does not adequately protect against concurrent access patterns that could occur when multiple ARP requests are received rapidly or when the device is under network stress. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.002, which involves network disruption attacks targeting industrial control systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-27481 extends beyond simple device crashes to potentially compromise entire industrial control networks. In critical infrastructure environments, such as power generation, water treatment, or manufacturing facilities, the failure of network switches can lead to cascading operational failures. The device crash represents a denial of service condition that can disrupt communication between industrial devices, sensors, and control systems, potentially leading to production halts, safety system failures, or security breaches in the broader industrial network ecosystem. The vulnerability's exploitation requires relatively simple network-based attacks that can be executed from external network positions, making it particularly dangerous for industrial environments where network security boundaries may be less strictly enforced.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates to versions V3.0.0 or later, which contain the necessary code fixes for proper ARP resource handling. Network administrators should implement network segmentation to limit access to these industrial switches from untrusted networks, while also deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for unusual ARP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include configuring network access controls to restrict ARP request flooding and implementing network monitoring to detect device instability. Organizations should also consider implementing redundant network paths and backup communication mechanisms to maintain operational continuity in case of device failure. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates in industrial environments and demonstrates how seemingly simple protocol implementations can create critical security weaknesses in operational technology infrastructure.