CVE-2023-37198 in StruxureWare Data Center
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2023
A CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') vulnerability exists that could cause remote code execution when an admin user on DCE uploads or tampers with install packages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-37198 represents a critical code injection flaw classified under CWE-94, which specifically addresses improper control of code generation. This vulnerability resides within the DCE (Distributed Computing Environment) platform where administrative users encounter a dangerous condition during package installation processes. The flaw manifests when administrators upload or modify installation packages, creating an environment where malicious code can be executed remotely without proper authorization. The root cause stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly inspect or filter package contents before processing, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary code that executes with administrative privileges.
This vulnerability operates within the context of a privilege escalation scenario where the administrative user's trust relationship with the system becomes compromised. When legitimate administrators interact with package management functions, the system fails to distinguish between authentic and malicious code components. The attack vector specifically targets the installation package handling mechanism, where code injection occurs during the package processing phase. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution as it provides attackers with full administrative control over the affected system, enabling them to manipulate, extract, or destroy sensitive data while maintaining persistent access.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted, encompassing complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Attackers can leverage this weakness to establish backdoors, deploy additional malware, or exfiltrate confidential information from the compromised system. The remote execution capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where administrative functions are frequently performed across networked systems. This flaw directly impacts the integrity and availability of the DCE platform, potentially causing service disruption while simultaneously providing unauthorized access to critical infrastructure components.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation and code sanitization processes that prevent malicious code injection during package handling operations. Organizations must enforce strict package verification procedures including digital signature validation, checksum verification, and automated malware scanning of all installation packages before administrative processing. The implementation of principle of least privilege access controls should limit administrative functions to only necessary personnel and systems. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous package installation activities and unauthorized code execution attempts. Security measures should align with industry standards including those outlined in the CWE catalog and ATT&CK framework, specifically addressing code injection techniques and privilege escalation vectors. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in related systems and ensure comprehensive protection against sophisticated attack methodologies.