CVE-2022-2825 in Kepware KEPServerEX
Summary
by MITRE • 03/29/2023
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Kepware KEPServerEX 6.11.718.0. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the handling of text encoding conversions. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a stack-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-18411.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2026
This vulnerability in Kepware KEPServerEX 6.11.718.0 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw that enables remote code execution without authentication requirements. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation during text encoding conversion processes, specifically when handling user-supplied data that exceeds safe buffer boundaries. The flaw manifests in the software's stack-based buffer handling mechanism where inadequate length verification permits malicious data to overwrite adjacent memory segments. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, which is classified as a severe memory safety issue within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication credentials, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can establish communication with the vulnerable service.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the software's failure to properly validate the length of text data before performing memory copy operations into fixed-size stack buffers. When user-supplied text encoding conversion data exceeds the allocated buffer space, it triggers a classic buffer overflow condition that can be exploited to overwrite return addresses and execute arbitrary code. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious input that precisely fills the buffer and overflows into adjacent memory locations, ultimately allowing an attacker to redirect execution flow and inject malicious payload code. This vulnerability specifically impacts the system's privilege context, enabling code execution with SYSTEM-level privileges, which represents the highest possible security clearance within the Windows operating system environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy additional malware payloads without requiring prior access credentials. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by its remote exploitability and lack of authentication requirements, making it particularly attractive to automated attack frameworks. Organizations running Kepware KEPServerEX 6.11.718.0 are at significant risk of unauthorized system access and potential industrial control system compromise, especially in environments where these servers are exposed to untrusted network segments. The vulnerability affects critical infrastructure systems that rely on KEPServerEX for industrial automation and data collection processes, making it a high-priority target for threat actors targeting operational technology environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of vendor-provided patches and updates to the affected KEPServerEX version. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the vulnerable service to only trusted administrative networks. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection for known exploit patterns can help identify attempted exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should focus on unusual network traffic patterns and unauthorized access attempts to the affected service ports. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting controls and regular security assessments of industrial control systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the need for comprehensive endpoint protection and network monitoring solutions. Regular vulnerability assessments and security awareness training for system administrators are essential components of a defense-in-depth strategy to protect against similar vulnerabilities in industrial control systems.