CVE-2022-37953 in WorkstationST
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2022
An HTTP response splitting vulnerability exists in the AM Gateway Challenge-Response dialog of WorkstationST (<v07.09.15) and could allow an attacker to compromise a victim's browser/session. WorkstationST is only deployed in specific, controlled environments rendering attack complexity significantly higher than if the attack were conducted on the software in isolation. WorkstationST v07.09.15 can be found in ControlST v07.09.07 SP8 and greater.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2022
The CVE-2022-37953 vulnerability represents a critical HTTP response splitting flaw within the AM Gateway Challenge-Response dialog implementation of WorkstationST software versions prior to 07.09.15. This vulnerability resides in the authentication handling mechanism where the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into HTTP response headers. The flaw manifests when the application processes challenge-response authentication flows without adequate validation of input parameters, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious content into HTTP responses that could subsequently be interpreted by web browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication dialog processing within WorkstationST, which operates as part of larger industrial control systems deployments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the HTTP response headers during the authentication challenge-response process. When legitimate authentication requests are processed, the application incorporates user-provided data directly into HTTP header fields without proper sanitization or encoding. This allows an attacker to inject malicious HTTP headers, potentially including additional headers that could redirect users to malicious sites, inject malicious content, or manipulate session cookies. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-113, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of CRLF characters in HTTP headers, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments. The flaw enables attackers to perform session hijacking or cross-site scripting attacks by manipulating the response headers that control browser behavior during authentication flows.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-37953 is particularly concerning within industrial control system environments where WorkstationST operates. While the attack complexity is elevated due to the controlled deployment nature of WorkstationST, the vulnerability still presents significant risk when exploited within the specific environments where it operates. The affected systems typically process sensitive authentication data and maintain access to critical infrastructure components, making successful exploitation potentially devastating. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to industrial control systems, manipulate authentication flows, or conduct man-in-the-middle attacks against legitimate users. The vulnerability's impact is compounded by the fact that WorkstationST is deployed in specific controlled environments, meaning that successful exploitation could provide attackers with access to operational technology networks that are often isolated from general enterprise networks but still critical to industrial operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-37953 should prioritize immediate deployment of the patched versions of WorkstationST, specifically version 07.09.15 or later, which are included in ControlST v07.09.07 SP8 and greater. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of affected systems, particularly in industrial control environments where WorkstationST is deployed. Additional defensive measures include implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied data within authentication flows, deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter HTTP headers, and conducting regular security assessments of industrial control system components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining updated industrial control system software and implementing robust security practices for operational technology environments. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring for anomalous HTTP header patterns and establishing incident response procedures specifically tailored to industrial control system security incidents.