CVE-2023-0839 in InSCADA
Summary
by MITRE • 03/06/2023
Improper Protection for Outbound Error Messages and Alert Signals vulnerability in ProMIS Process Co. InSCADA allows Account Footprinting.
This issue affects inSCADA: before 20230115-1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2026
The CVE-2023-0839 vulnerability represents a critical weakness in ProMIS Process Co.'s InSCADA industrial control system that compromises the protection of outbound error messages and alert signals. This flaw falls under the broader category of improper protection mechanisms that can expose sensitive operational data to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability specifically impacts systems running InSCADA versions prior to 20230115-1, indicating that this represents a known issue that was addressed through a specific software update. The affected system operates within industrial environments where security is paramount for maintaining operational integrity and preventing potential disruptions to critical infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization and protection of error communications that flow from the InSCADA system to external monitoring or management interfaces. When error conditions occur within the industrial control environment, the system generates alert signals and error messages that contain operational data, system configurations, or other sensitive information. These outbound communications are not properly secured or filtered, allowing attackers to intercept and analyze the information contained within these messages. This represents a classic case of insufficient output validation and protection mechanisms that can lead to information disclosure vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information exposure, as it enables account footprinting activities that can provide attackers with valuable intelligence about the industrial control environment. Through careful analysis of the error messages and alert signals, an attacker can gain insights into system configurations, operational parameters, and potentially identify other vulnerabilities within the network infrastructure. This information can be used to plan more sophisticated attacks targeting specific system components or to understand the operational flow of the industrial process. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor for threat actors to map the operational landscape of the industrial environment without direct system access.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper output handling and information exposure, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1082 for system information discovery and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. The issue demonstrates how industrial control systems often lack proper security controls for outbound communications, creating opportunities for adversaries to gather intelligence through seemingly benign error reporting mechanisms. Organizations implementing InSCADA systems must understand that error handling and alert management should not be treated as secondary security concerns, as these mechanisms can inadvertently provide attackers with valuable operational intelligence.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper output filtering and sanitization for all error messages and alert signals generated by the InSCADA system. Organizations must ensure that system updates are applied promptly, particularly the specific patch released on or after January 15, 2023, to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and monitoring of outbound communications can help detect unusual patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege management within the InSCADA environment can limit the potential damage from information disclosure, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other industrial control system components.