CVE-2022-28328 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 malformed Multicast LLC frames. This could allow an attacker to trigger a denial of service condition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2022-28328 affects several Siemens SCALANCE W series industrial network devices including the W1788-1 M12, W1788-2 EEC M12, W1788-2 M12, and W1788-2IA M12 models. These devices are part of Siemens' industrial automation and control systems portfolio, designed for use in harsh industrial environments where reliable network communication is critical. The affected devices operate with firmware versions prior to V3.0.0, representing a significant security gap that impacts industrial network infrastructure components. These devices are commonly deployed in critical infrastructure sectors including manufacturing, energy, and process control environments where network availability directly correlates with operational safety and productivity.
The technical flaw stems from improper handling of malformed Multicast Link Layer Control (LLC) frames within the network protocol stack of these industrial switches. Multicast LLC frames are used for efficient network communication in industrial Ethernet environments, particularly in protocols like PROFINET where multiple devices need to communicate simultaneously. When these devices receive malformed or crafted LLC frames, the network processing logic fails to properly validate or sanitize the incoming frame data, leading to unexpected behavior in the device's network stack. This processing failure manifests as a denial of service condition that can be triggered by sending specifically crafted malformed frames to the affected devices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple network disruption to potentially compromise industrial control system reliability and safety. In industrial environments where these switches serve as critical network infrastructure components, a denial of service condition can lead to production halts, safety system failures, and significant financial losses. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it accessible to attackers who may be positioned on the same network segment. The nature of industrial environments, where network downtime can have cascading effects on production processes, makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous. According to CWE-129, this represents an input validation weakness where insufficient bounds checking leads to system instability.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is primarily within industrial network environments where these specific SCALANCE devices are deployed. Attackers can exploit this weakness by transmitting malformed Multicast LLC frames to the affected network switches, causing the device to become unresponsive or reboot. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which describes network disruption attacks targeting industrial control systems. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require specialized tools or deep technical knowledge, making it accessible to a wide range of threat actors. The impact is particularly severe in environments where these switches are part of critical network paths, as the denial of service can interrupt communication between control systems and field devices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-28328 should prioritize firmware updates to version 3.0.0 or later, which contain the necessary patches to properly handle malformed Multicast LLC frames. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected devices within their industrial network infrastructure and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk exposure. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit potential attack vectors, while monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, industrial network administrators should implement network intrusion detection systems specifically tuned to identify malformed LLC frame traffic patterns, as these devices operate in environments where traditional security controls may not be sufficient to protect against industrial-specific threats. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware in industrial environments and demonstrates the critical need for robust network security practices in operational technology environments.