CVE-2023-29023 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 to view and modify sensitive data or make the web page unavailable. User interaction, such as a phishing attack, is required for successful exploitation of this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2023
The cross site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-29023 affects Rockwell Automation's ArmorStart ST product, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of web-based interfaces used for industrial automation and control systems. This vulnerability resides within the web application layer of the ArmorStart ST platform, which is designed to provide secure remote access and monitoring capabilities for industrial equipment. The flaw specifically manifests in the product's handling of user input within web responses, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code that executes in the context of other users' sessions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross site scripting flaws as weaknesses in web applications that allow attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The exploitation requires user interaction through phishing techniques or similar social engineering methods, making it particularly dangerous in industrial environments where operators may be targeted through deceptive communications. The vulnerability enables attackers to potentially access sensitive operational data, modify critical system parameters, or disrupt service availability through malicious script execution that can manipulate the web interface in real-time.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it represents a significant threat to industrial control system security and operational continuity. In industrial settings where ArmorStart ST is deployed for monitoring and controlling critical infrastructure, successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to process control data, modification of operational parameters, or complete disruption of monitoring capabilities. The requirement for user interaction through phishing attacks means that organizations must also address social engineering risks alongside traditional technical vulnerabilities, creating a more complex security landscape for industrial cybersecurity teams.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-29023 should include immediate application of vendor-provided security patches and updates to the ArmorStart ST product, alongside comprehensive network segmentation to limit access to the affected web interfaces. Organizations should implement robust input validation mechanisms and output encoding to prevent script injection attacks, while also establishing monitoring protocols to detect suspicious user activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering tactics including phishing, emphasizes the need for user awareness training and email filtering solutions alongside technical controls. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing of industrial control systems should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that may exist in the broader industrial ecosystem.