CVE-2022-3084 in CIMPLICITY
Summary
by MITRE • 12/08/2022
GE CIMPICITY versions 2022 and prior is vulnerable when data from a faulting address controls code flow starting at gmmiObj!CGmmiRootOptionTable, which could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3084 affects GE CIMPICITY versions 2022 and earlier, representing a critical code execution flaw that stems from improper input validation within the software's memory management subsystem. This vulnerability manifests when data originating from a faulting memory address influences the execution flow of the gmmiObj!CGmmiRootOptionTable component, creating a pathway for malicious actors to gain unauthorized code execution privileges. The issue resides in the software's failure to properly validate or sanitize memory references that could be manipulated by an attacker, ultimately leading to a potential remote code execution scenario. The affected system operates within industrial control environments where GE CIMPICITY serves as a critical component for managing and monitoring industrial processes, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for operational technology infrastructure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves a classic buffer overflow or memory corruption attack vector where attacker-controlled data from an invalid memory address can manipulate the program's execution flow. The specific component gmmiObj!CGmmiRootOptionTable represents a table structure that manages various operational options within the CIMPICITY framework, and when this table receives malformed input from a faulting address, it can cause the program to jump to attacker-controlled execution paths. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. The flaw demonstrates characteristics of a memory safety issue where the system fails to properly validate memory access patterns, allowing for potential code injection attacks that could be leveraged to execute arbitrary commands within the context of the running application.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to industrial control systems that rely on GE CIMPICITY for their operation and monitoring. The potential for remote code execution means that attackers could gain full control over the affected systems, potentially leading to disruption of critical industrial processes, data manipulation, or even physical damage to equipment. The vulnerability's presence in versions 2022 and earlier indicates that organizations operating legacy systems may be particularly at risk, as these systems likely contain critical infrastructure components that require extended operational lifecycles. The attack surface expands when considering that industrial environments often have limited network segmentation and may lack robust security monitoring capabilities, making exploitation more likely to succeed without detection.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation efforts by upgrading to GE CIMPICITY versions that have addressed this vulnerability through proper memory validation and input sanitization measures. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive network segmentation to limit access to affected systems, implementation of intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for exploitation attempts, and regular vulnerability assessments targeting industrial control systems. Additionally, organizations should implement defense-in-depth strategies including application whitelisting, mandatory code signing requirements, and enhanced monitoring of system calls related to memory management operations. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter indicates that attackers may attempt to leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access through command execution, making comprehensive monitoring and incident response procedures essential for protecting operational technology environments.