CVE-2023-37556 in Control
Summary
by MITRE • 08/03/2023
In multiple versions of multiple Codesys products, after successful authentication as a user, specific crafted network communication requests with inconsistent content can cause the CmpAppBP component to read internally from an invalid address, potentially leading to a denial-of-service condition. This vulnerability is different to CVE-2023-37552, CVE-2023-37553, CVE-2023-37554 and CVE-2023-37555.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-37556 represents a critical denial-of-service weakness affecting multiple Codesys products across various versions. This flaw manifests within the CmpAppBP component, which serves as a fundamental building block for application development within the Codesys environment. The vulnerability specifically targets the component's handling of network communication requests that occur after successful user authentication, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's memory management mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on crafting specific network communication requests that contain inconsistent content patterns. When the CmpAppBP component processes these malformed requests, it attempts to read from an invalid memory address, leading to a system crash or complete service unavailability. This memory access violation occurs because the component fails to properly validate or sanitize the incoming network data before attempting to process it internally. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate memory management controls within the Codesys framework, creating an attack surface where authenticated users can potentially disrupt system operations through carefully constructed network traffic.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to industrial control systems and automation environments that rely on Codesys products. The denial-of-service condition can result in complete system outages, disrupting critical manufacturing processes, control operations, and automation workflows. Organizations utilizing Codesys platforms in industrial environments may face production downtime, safety system compromises, and operational disruptions that could have cascading effects throughout their infrastructure. The vulnerability's potential for remote exploitation makes it particularly dangerous in environments where network connectivity is established between operational technology and information technology systems.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which addresses "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 related to "Endpoint Denial of Service." The flaw specifically impacts the CmpAppBP component's memory handling capabilities, where insufficient bounds checking allows for invalid address dereferencing. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation controls, access control restrictions, and monitoring for anomalous network communication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in industrial control systems, where such flaws can have severe operational consequences beyond simple service disruption.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected Codesys versions, implementation of network access controls to limit exposure, and deployment of intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious network traffic patterns. System administrators should also consider restricting network communication to only necessary endpoints and implementing comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's distinction from related CVEs such as CVE-2023-37552 through CVE-2023-37555 indicates that multiple components within the Codesys ecosystem require attention, suggesting that organizations should perform comprehensive vulnerability assessments across their entire Codesys deployment to identify and address similar weaknesses throughout their industrial control infrastructure.