CVE-2023-28829 in SIMATIC NET PC Software
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2023
A vulnerability has been identified in SIMATIC NET PC Software V14 (All versions), SIMATIC NET PC Software V15 (All versions), SIMATIC PCS 7 V8.2 (All versions), SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.0 (All versions), SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.1 (All versions), SIMATIC WinCC (All versions < V8.0), SINAUT Software ST7sc (All versions). Before SIMATIC WinCC V8, legacy OPC services (OPC DA (Data Access), OPC HDA (Historical Data Access), and OPC AE (Alarms & Events)) were used per default. These services were designed on top of the Windows ActiveX and DCOM mechanisms and do not implement state-of-the-art security mechanisms for authentication and encryption of contents.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2023
This vulnerability resides within Siemens industrial software products including SIMATIC NET PC Software V14 and V15, SIMATIC PCS 7 V8.2 through V9.1, and various versions of SIMATIC WinCC and SINAUT Software ST7sc. The core issue stems from the continued use of legacy OPC services that rely on Windows ActiveX and DCOM mechanisms rather than modern security protocols. These services were designed in an era when cybersecurity considerations were less sophisticated, leaving them fundamentally vulnerable to exploitation. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where legacy OPC DA, HDA, and AE services remain enabled by default, creating a persistent attack surface that has not been adequately addressed through security updates.
The technical flaw manifests through the inherent weaknesses of DCOM-based communication protocols that lack modern authentication and encryption mechanisms. These legacy services operate using weak credential handling and unencrypted data transmission, making them susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks, credential theft, and unauthorized system access. The ActiveX components used in these implementations have known security vulnerabilities that have been documented in various cybersecurity advisories. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-310 (Cryptographic Issues) as it combines weak access control mechanisms with inadequate cryptographic protection. The attack surface is particularly concerning because these services are often enabled by default in industrial environments where security assumptions may not be properly validated.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple network access issues as it affects critical industrial control systems that form the backbone of manufacturing and process automation. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to industrial processes, potentially leading to production disruptions, data manipulation, or even physical safety hazards. The default-enabled nature of these legacy services means that many organizations may be unknowingly exposing critical infrastructure to attack without implementing proper security controls. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1105 (Ingress Tool Transfer) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) as attackers could leverage these services to establish persistent access or exfiltrate data from industrial networks.
Organizations should immediately disable legacy OPC services where possible and implement network segmentation to isolate industrial control systems from general IT networks. The recommended mitigation strategy includes upgrading to modern OPC UA implementations that provide robust authentication and encryption capabilities, implementing strict access controls, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of industrial environments. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous DCOM traffic patterns and establish secure remote access solutions using modern protocols. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of addressing legacy system security issues in industrial environments where the cost of security updates may be outweighed by the potential consequences of exploitation.