CVE-2023-0861 in NetModule NSRW
Summary
by MITRE • 02/16/2023
NetModule NSRW web administration interface executes an OS command constructed with unsanitized user input. A successful exploit could allow an authenticated user to execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges. This issue affects NSRW: from 4.3.0.0 before 4.3.0.119, from 4.4.0.0 before 4.4.0.118, from 4.6.0.0 before 4.6.0.105, from 4.7.0.0 before 4.7.0.103. The issue affects NSRW packaged by Phoenix Contact routers: from 4.6.72.0 before 4.6.72.101, from 4.6.73.0 before 4.6.73.101.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0861 represents a critical command injection flaw within the NetModule NSRW web administration interface. This issue stems from improper input validation mechanisms that fail to sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into operating system commands. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of the NSRW firmware across different release branches, specifically targeting versions from 4.3.0.0 through 4.3.0.118, 4.4.0.0 through 4.4.0.117, 4.6.0.0 through 4.6.0.104, 4.7.0.0 through 4.7.0.102, and the Phoenix Contact router versions from 4.6.72.0 through 4.6.72.100 and 4.6.73.0 through 4.6.73.100. The flaw exists in the web administration interface where user inputs are directly concatenated into system command strings without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated user submits malicious input through the web interface that gets processed and executed as a system command. This creates a privilege escalation scenario where the authenticated user can execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges, potentially gaining full control over the affected device. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in a command, and more specifically with CWE-94 which addresses the execution of arbitrary code due to improper input handling. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as it allows authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides a pathway for attackers to gain unauthorized access and control over network infrastructure devices. An attacker with valid credentials could leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious commands, potentially leading to data exfiltration, network disruption, or further lateral movement within the network. The affected devices are primarily industrial network routers and communication modules that form critical components of industrial control systems, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for operational technology environments. The vulnerability affects devices manufactured by Phoenix Contact, which are commonly deployed in critical infrastructure sectors including manufacturing, energy, and utilities where network reliability and security are paramount. Organizations utilizing these devices face significant risk of compromise, especially if they do not maintain current firmware updates or have inadequate network segmentation controls to limit access to administrative interfaces.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate firmware updates to versions that address this vulnerability, specifically targeting the patched versions mentioned in the advisory. Network administrators should implement strict access controls and limit administrative access to the affected devices through network segmentation and multi-factor authentication. Regular security assessments should include verification of device firmware versions and implementation of network monitoring to detect suspicious command execution patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation and sanitization in web applications, emphasizing the need for secure coding practices that prevent command injection attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify attempts to exploit command injection vulnerabilities and establish incident response procedures for rapid remediation of such security incidents.