CVE-2022-40264 in ICONICS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/14/2022
Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') vulnerability in ICONICS/Mitsubishi Electric GENESIS64 versions 10.96 to 10.97.2 allows an unauthenticated attacker to create, tamper with or destroy arbitrary files by getting a legitimate user import a project package file crafted by the attacker.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2023
The CVE-2022-40264 vulnerability represents a critical path traversal flaw affecting ICONICS/Mitsubishi Electric GENESIS64 software versions 10.96 through 10.97.2. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category, which specifically addresses improper limitation of pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate file system operations by exploiting insufficient input validation during project package import processes, creating a significant security risk for industrial control systems and automation environments where GENESIS64 is deployed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs during the project package import functionality within the GENESIS64 software platform. When legitimate users attempt to import project package files, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize file paths contained within these packages. Attackers can craft malicious project files containing specially formatted path traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\ that allow them to navigate outside the intended directory structure and access or modify files in restricted system locations. This improper input validation creates a direct pathway for arbitrary file operations including file creation, modification, and deletion across the target system.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-40264 extends beyond simple file system manipulation to potentially compromise entire industrial control environments. Since the vulnerability requires no authentication to exploit, attackers can leverage it remotely without prior system access credentials. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.001 for valid accounts for initial access, making the attack surface particularly concerning for operational technology environments. The ability to create, tamper with, or destroy arbitrary files could lead to system corruption, data manipulation, or complete system compromise, especially in environments where GENESIS64 controls critical industrial processes.
Organizations utilizing ICONICS/Mitsubishi Electric GENESIS64 software must implement immediate mitigations to protect against this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates released to address the path traversal flaw. Additionally, network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to GENESIS64 systems, particularly restricting import functionality to trusted administrative users only. Input validation controls should be strengthened to prevent malicious path sequences from being processed during package imports, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in industrial control system environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in industrial software and the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies for operational technology infrastructure.