CVE-2022-41671 in EcoStruxure Operator Terminal Expert
Summary
by MITRE • 11/04/2022
A CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in SQL Command (‘SQL Injection’) vulnerability exists that allows adversaries with local user privileges to craft a malicious SQL query and execute as part of project migration which could result in execution of malicious code. Affected Products: EcoStruxure Operator Terminal Expert(V3.3 Hotfix 1 or prior), Pro-face BLUE(V3.3 Hotfix1 or prior).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-41671 represents a critical SQL injection flaw classified under CWE-89, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands. This weakness manifests within the EcoStruxure Operator Terminal Expert V3.3 Hotfix 1 and Pro-face BLUE V3.3 Hotfix 1 software products, creating a significant security risk for industrial automation environments. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the project migration functionality of these industrial control systems, allowing malicious actors with local user privileges to manipulate SQL queries through crafted inputs. The affected systems operate within critical infrastructure environments where unauthorized code execution could lead to severe operational disruptions and potential safety hazards.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs during the project migration process where the software fails to properly escape or parameterize user-supplied inputs before incorporating them into SQL command structures. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious SQL payloads that bypass authentication mechanisms or manipulate database operations to execute arbitrary code on the target system. This particular flaw operates at the application level within industrial automation software, making it especially dangerous as it targets systems that control critical manufacturing processes and operational technology environments. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires only local user privileges, meaning that attackers who have gained access to a legitimate user account can potentially escalate their privileges and compromise the entire system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise to include potential system destabilization and unauthorized access to industrial control processes. In industrial environments where EcoStruxure Operator Terminal Expert and Pro-face BLUE are deployed, successful exploitation could result in manipulation of process controls, data corruption, or complete system compromise that affects production operations. The vulnerability affects both software products within the same ecosystem, indicating a broader architectural weakness that may be present in related industrial automation components. Organizations using these products face increased risk of operational technology breaches that could disrupt manufacturing processes and potentially cause physical damage to equipment or facilities.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by the vendors to address the SQL injection weakness in the project migration functionality. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit local user access and deploy additional monitoring controls to detect unusual database access patterns or SQL command executions. The implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries should be enforced throughout the application codebase to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their industrial control systems to identify other potential SQL injection vulnerabilities and ensure that proper access controls are implemented to limit the potential impact of local privilege escalation attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1213 for Data from Information Repositories, highlighting the multi-layered attack vectors that can emerge from such flaws in industrial environments.