CVE-2023-2072 in PowerMonitor
Summary
by MITRE • 07/11/2023
The Rockwell Automation PowerMonitor 1000 contains stored cross-site scripting vulnerabilities within the web page of the product. The vulnerable pages do not require privileges to access and can be injected with code by an attacker which could be used to leverage an attack on an authenticated user resulting in remote code execution and potentially the complete loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the product.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2023
The Rockwell Automation PowerMonitor 1000 represents a critical industrial control system device that manages power monitoring and management functions within industrial environments. This device operates through a web interface that allows operators to configure and monitor power consumption data. The vulnerability exists within the web page implementation where input validation mechanisms fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the browser context. The device's web interface serves as the primary attack surface for remote exploitation, as it lacks proper access controls and privilege requirements for accessing vulnerable pages.
The technical flaw manifests as a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that occurs when user-provided data is persistently stored within the device's web application and subsequently rendered without adequate sanitization or encoding. This allows an attacker to inject malicious script code into the web application's database or configuration files, which then executes whenever authenticated users access the vulnerable pages. The vulnerability is classified as stored XSS because the malicious payload is stored on the server and executed against users who subsequently access the affected functionality. The attack vector does not require authentication to the web interface itself, making it particularly dangerous for industrial environments where physical access may be limited but network exposure is common.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or information disclosure. When successfully exploited, the XSS attack can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code on the targeted system, potentially leading to complete system compromise. An attacker could use the vulnerability to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or redirect users to malicious sites that could further exploit the industrial control environment. The potential for remote code execution means that attackers could gain complete control over the PowerMonitor 1000 device, which could result in unauthorized power management decisions, data manipulation, or disruption of critical industrial processes. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the entire system could be compromised, potentially affecting larger industrial control networks that depend on accurate power monitoring data.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a significant risk within industrial control systems where the attack surface includes web-based management interfaces. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving initial access through web application exploitation and privilege escalation through code execution. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate industrial control systems from general network access, disabling unnecessary web interfaces, and applying vendor-provided patches or firmware updates. Additionally, regular security assessments of industrial web applications should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that could provide attackers with persistent access to critical infrastructure components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure web application development practices in industrial environments where the consequences of exploitation can extend beyond simple data breaches to potentially affect operational technology systems and physical processes.