CVE-2022-45147 in SIMATIC PCS neo V4.0
Summary
by MITRE • 07/09/2024
A vulnerability has been identified in SIMATIC PCS neo V4.0 (All versions), SIMATIC STEP 7 V16 (All versions), SIMATIC STEP 7 V17 (All versions), SIMATIC STEP 7 V18 (All versions < V18 Update 2). Affected applications do not properly restrict the .NET BinaryFormatter when deserializing user-controllable input. This could allow an attacker to cause a type confusion and execute arbitrary code within the affected application.
This is the same issue that exists for .NET BinaryFormatter https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/code-quality/ca2300.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2022-45147 represents a critical security flaw affecting Siemens industrial automation software products including SIMATIC PCS neo V4.0 and various versions of SIMATIC STEP 7. This issue stems from improper handling of .NET BinaryFormatter during deserialization processes, creating a dangerous attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw specifically impacts applications that process user-controllable input through the BinaryFormatter deserialization mechanism, which has been widely recognized as problematic in the software development community.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insecure deserialization practices within the affected Siemens products. When applications deserialize data using .NET BinaryFormatter without proper input validation or sanitization, they become susceptible to type confusion attacks. This occurs because the BinaryFormatter can reconstruct objects from serialized data regardless of their intended type, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that manipulate the deserialization process. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-502 which specifically addresses deserialization of untrusted data, making it a well-documented and dangerous security risk in software development practices.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to industrial control systems and automation environments where Siemens products are deployed. Attackers can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary code within the context of the affected applications, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The implications extend beyond simple code execution, as these applications typically operate in critical infrastructure environments where unauthorized access could result in production disruptions, data manipulation, or even physical safety hazards. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these are industrial automation tools that often run with elevated privileges and have direct access to operational processes.
The security implications align with ATT&CK framework techniques such as T1059.001 for command and script interpreter and T1203 for exploitation for client execution, as the vulnerability enables attackers to execute malicious code remotely through crafted input. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling or removing the use of BinaryFormatter from affected applications, implementing proper input validation controls, and applying available vendor patches. The issue is particularly relevant for organizations following NIST cybersecurity frameworks and ISO 27001 standards, as it represents a clear violation of secure coding practices and proper input sanitization requirements that are fundamental to protecting industrial control systems from remote exploitation attacks.
Organizations utilizing these Siemens products must conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances where BinaryFormatter is used, implement network segmentation to limit access to affected systems, and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation approach should include both immediate defensive measures such as disabling vulnerable deserialization mechanisms and long-term architectural improvements to eliminate the use of insecure deserialization patterns. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing application whitelisting controls and regular security testing to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future software versions.