CVE-2022-32141 in CODESYS
Summary
by MITRE • 06/24/2022
Multiple CODESYS Products are prone to a buffer over read. A low privileged remote attacker may craft a request with an invalid offset, which can cause an internal buffer over-read, resulting in a denial-of-service condition. User interaction is not required.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-32141 affects multiple CODESYS products, which are widely used industrial automation and control system frameworks. This issue represents a critical buffer over-read condition that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring any user interaction. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the software's handling of requests containing invalid offset values. CODESYS products are commonly deployed in industrial environments for programmable logic controller programming and runtime systems, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to disrupt critical infrastructure operations.
The technical flaw manifests when the software processes incoming requests with malformed offset parameters that exceed the bounds of internal buffers. This buffer over-read condition occurs because the application fails to properly validate the offset values before using them to access memory locations. The vulnerability is classified as a buffer over-read under CWE-125, which specifically addresses the reading of memory locations beyond the bounds of allocated buffers. The flaw allows an attacker to access uninitialized memory regions, potentially exposing sensitive data or causing the application to crash. This type of vulnerability typically arises from inadequate bounds checking mechanisms in the software's memory management routines.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant denial-of-service risk for industrial control systems that rely on CODESYS products. Remote attackers can trigger the buffer over-read condition by sending specially crafted requests with invalid offset values, causing the affected applications to crash or become unresponsive. The lack of user interaction requirements means that attackers can exploit this vulnerability passively, making it particularly dangerous in industrial environments where continuous operation is critical. The vulnerability affects the availability and reliability of automation systems, potentially leading to production disruptions, safety incidents, or increased maintenance costs for affected organizations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-32141 should focus on immediate patch application from the vendor, as this represents a known vulnerability with available remediation. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to CODESYS applications and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious traffic patterns. Access controls should be strengthened to ensure that only authorized personnel can interact with the affected systems. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and represents a significant risk to industrial control system security. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their industrial control environments to identify other potential entry points and ensure comprehensive security posture across all connected systems.