CVE-2023-37559 in Control
Summary
by MITRE • 08/03/2023
After successful authentication as a user in multiple Codesys products in multiple versions, specific crafted network communication requests with inconsistent content can cause the CmpAppForce component to read internally from an invalid address, potentially leading to a denial-of-service condition. This vulnerability is different to CVE-2023-37558
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-37559 represents a critical denial-of-service weakness within multiple Codesys products that manifests specifically after successful user authentication. This flaw resides in the CmpAppForce component and demonstrates how seemingly legitimate network communication can be exploited to trigger system instability. The vulnerability operates through a sophisticated mechanism where crafted network requests containing inconsistent content can cause the system to attempt reading from invalid memory addresses, effectively compromising the application's stability and availability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated user context, meaning attackers must first establish valid credentials before attempting to leverage this weakness. This authentication requirement provides some operational protection but does not eliminate the threat entirely, as legitimate users with compromised credentials could potentially trigger this condition. The core flaw lies in the improper handling of network communication requests within the CmpAppForce component, which fails to validate the consistency of received data before attempting memory operations. This pattern of inadequate input validation aligns with common software security weaknesses and represents a classic example of how improper data handling can lead to system instability.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for industrial control systems and automation environments where Codesys products are deployed. The denial-of-service condition can disrupt critical operations, potentially affecting manufacturing processes, industrial automation systems, or other time-sensitive applications where system availability is paramount. The fact that this vulnerability differs from CVE-2023-37558 indicates that Codesys developers have identified multiple distinct pathways for causing similar system instability, suggesting a broader class of weaknesses within the product's network communication handling mechanisms. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where continuous system operation is essential, as any denial-of-service condition can result in production downtime and associated financial losses.
The underlying technical issue can be classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition, where the application attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated boundaries. This weakness demonstrates poor memory management practices and inadequate bounds checking within the CmpAppForce component. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability represents a relatively low-effort method for causing system disruption, as it requires only network access and valid authentication credentials. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial-of-service attacks, where adversaries leverage system weaknesses to compromise availability. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit potential exploitation, while also ensuring proper patch management protocols are in place to address this vulnerability promptly.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application from Codesys, as well as network monitoring to detect unusual communication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and bounds checking within the affected components would provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider network access controls to limit unnecessary communication with affected systems, particularly focusing on reducing the attack surface for authenticated users who might inadvertently trigger this condition through malformed requests. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory management and input validation in industrial control systems where security and availability are equally critical considerations.