CVE-2022-4608 in RTU500
Summary
by MITRE • 07/26/2023
A vulnerability exists in HCI IEC 60870-5-104 function included in certain versions of the RTU500 series product. The vulnerability can only be exploited, if the HCI 60870-5-104 is configured with support for IEC 62351-3. After session resumption interval is expired an RTU500 initiated update of session parameters causes an unexpected restart due to a stack overflow.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2022-4608 represents a critical stack overflow condition within the HCI IEC 60870-5-104 function of RTU500 series devices. This flaw specifically manifests when the system operates with IEC 62351-3 support enabled, creating a dangerous operational scenario where legitimate session management activities trigger system instability. The vulnerability operates through a carefully orchestrated sequence that exploits the device's handling of session parameter updates during the resumption interval expiration process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management during session parameter updates in the IEC 60870-5-104 protocol stack. When the session resumption interval expires and the RTU500 attempts to initiate an update of session parameters, the system's stack buffer handling fails to properly validate input data or enforce adequate bounds checking. This condition creates a classic stack overflow scenario where malicious or malformed parameter data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, ultimately causing the device to crash and restart unexpectedly. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates during normal system operations rather than requiring special conditions or malicious input beyond the legitimate protocol behavior.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to industrial control systems and critical infrastructure environments where RTU500 series devices are deployed. The unexpected restarts caused by this vulnerability can lead to service disruption, data loss, and potentially compromise the integrity of control processes that rely on continuous operation. The timing of the exploit, occurring during session resumption, makes it particularly dangerous as it can occur during routine maintenance windows or automated system operations, potentially masking the true nature of the attack. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability and reliability of industrial communication systems, creating potential cascading failures in networked control environments.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate firmware updates from the vendor to address the stack overflow condition in the protocol implementation. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of affected devices to untrusted networks, while monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous session resumption behavior. Organizations should also consider implementing protocol-level filtering to restrict IEC 62351-3 support where it is not strictly required, as this configuration is necessary for the vulnerability to be exploitable. Additionally, regular security assessments of industrial control systems should include verification of protocol stack implementations to identify similar memory management flaws that could lead to similar instability conditions.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, representing a fundamental flaw in memory management that allows attackers to overwrite stack contents and potentially execute arbitrary code or cause system crashes. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged in the execution phase of an attack, potentially as part of a broader campaign targeting industrial control systems. The exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous for operational technology environments where system uptime is critical. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in industrial protocol implementations, where memory safety is paramount due to the potential for cascading failures in critical infrastructure environments.