CVE-2023-29022 in ArmorStart ST
Summary
by MITRE • 05/11/2023
A cross site scripting vulnerability was discovered in Rockwell Automation's ArmorStart ST product
that could potentially allow a malicious user with admin privileges and network access to view user data and modify the web interface. Additionally, a malicious user could potentially cause interruptions to the availability of the web page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2025
The cross site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-29022 affects Rockwell Automation's ArmorStart ST product, representing a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity of industrial control systems. This vulnerability resides within the web interface component of the software, specifically targeting the authentication and authorization mechanisms that govern administrative access to sensitive operational data. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within web pages, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into the application's response. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by its requirement for administrative privileges, indicating that it operates within a trusted execution environment where users have elevated access rights to system resources and user data.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability follows standard attack patterns where malicious payloads are crafted to manipulate the web application's behavior through script injection. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially accessing sensitive user data, modifying web interface elements, or disrupting service availability. The attack vector requires network access combined with administrative credentials, suggesting that the vulnerability may be exploited through lateral movement within a network or through compromised administrative accounts. This configuration aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross site scripting as a common web application vulnerability where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable persistent attacks that maintain access to compromised systems while potentially disrupting operational continuity.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-29022 within industrial environments presents significant risks to critical infrastructure security, particularly in manufacturing and process control systems where Rockwell Automation products are commonly deployed. The ability for an attacker with administrative privileges to view user data creates potential for intellectual property theft, operational disruption, and unauthorized system modifications that could compromise production processes. The web interface modification capability allows attackers to manipulate system displays, potentially leading to incorrect operational decisions or complete system misconfiguration. Service availability disruption represents a particularly dangerous aspect of this vulnerability, as it could enable denial of service attacks that prevent legitimate operators from accessing critical system controls during production operations. These impacts align with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of web application attacks, where adversaries exploit vulnerabilities to gain access to system resources and maintain persistence within operational technology environments.
Organizations utilizing Rockwell Automation ArmorStart ST products should immediately implement mitigations including comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and the implementation of proper content security policies to prevent script execution within the web interface. The vulnerability's requirement for administrative privileges suggests that access control measures should be strengthened through multi-factor authentication and regular privilege reviews to minimize the attack surface. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrative access activities should be implemented to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. System updates and patches should be applied immediately upon availability from Rockwell Automation, as the vulnerability represents a known weakness that attackers are likely to target in industrial environments. Security teams should also conduct thorough penetration testing and vulnerability assessments to identify potential additional attack vectors that may exist within the broader operational technology ecosystem where this product operates.