CVE-2022-46355 in SCALANCE X204RNA
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2022
A vulnerability has been identified in SCALANCE X204RNA (HSR) (All versions < V3.2.7), SCALANCE X204RNA (PRP) (All versions < V3.2.7), SCALANCE X204RNA EEC (HSR) (All versions < V3.2.7), SCALANCE X204RNA EEC (PRP) (All versions < V3.2.7), SCALANCE X204RNA EEC (PRP/HSR) (All versions < V3.2.7). The affected products are vulnerable to an "Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor" vulnerability by leaking sensitive data in the HTTP Referer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2023
This vulnerability affects Siemens SCALANCE X204RNA series industrial network devices operating in HSR and PRP network configurations across multiple firmware versions prior to V3.2.7. The flaw represents a critical exposure of sensitive information through improper handling of HTTP Referer headers, which can lead to unauthorized data disclosure in industrial control environments. The affected devices are part of Siemens' industrial networking portfolio designed for harsh industrial environments where security is paramount for operational technology infrastructure.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when the affected SCALANCE devices process HTTP requests and inadvertently include sensitive information within the Referer header field. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the device receives HTTP traffic containing references to internal systems, configuration details, or operational parameters that should remain confidential within the industrial network perimeter. The exposure occurs at the application layer of the network stack where HTTP protocol handling routines fail to sanitize or properly filter the Referer header content before processing or logging. According to CWE-200, this represents a direct violation of information hiding principles where sensitive data flows to unauthorized actors through improper access controls and data sanitization mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage as it creates potential pathways for attackers to gather intelligence about industrial control systems, network topology, and device configurations. In industrial environments, the leaked information could include internal IP addresses, device identifiers, network segments, or operational parameters that could facilitate subsequent attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in SCADA and industrial IoT deployments where these devices form critical communication infrastructure for process control and monitoring systems. Attackers could leverage this information to plan targeted attacks against other system components or to establish persistence within the industrial network. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1592 which involves reconnaissance activities focused on gathering information about network infrastructure and system configurations.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate firmware updates to versions V3.2.7 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization of HTTP Referer headers. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring controls to detect anomalous HTTP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The security controls should include firewall rules that restrict HTTP traffic to authorized networks only, and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of information disclosure. Organizations should conduct comprehensive network assessments to identify all affected devices and establish monitoring procedures for detecting unauthorized data flows. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms for HTTP management interfaces can help reduce the attack surface and limit potential exploitation of this vulnerability.