CVE-2023-38121 in Ignition
Summary
by MITRE • 05/04/2024
Inductive Automation Ignition OPC UA Quick Client Cross-Site Scripting Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Inductive Automation Ignition. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
The specific flaw exists within the handling of the id parameter provided to the Inductive Automation Ignition web interface. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can lead to the injection of an arbitrary script. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-20355.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2025
The CVE-2023-38121 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Inductive Automation Ignition OPC UA Quick Client that can be escalated to remote code execution. This vulnerability resides within the web interface component of the Ignition platform, specifically in how the system processes the id parameter. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. Security researchers have identified this issue as a serious concern for industrial control systems environments where Ignition is commonly deployed for OPC UA communications and automation processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic XSS attack pattern where malicious script code can be injected through the id parameter field. When a victim interacts with a maliciously crafted web page or opens a specially crafted file, the vulnerable application fails to validate or escape the input data properly. This allows an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes within the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM level permissions, effectively giving attackers complete control over the affected system. According to the ZDI-CAN-20355 reference, this vulnerability has been thoroughly documented and analyzed by the cybersecurity community.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond typical web application security concerns into industrial control system security domains. Organizations using Inductive Automation Ignition for critical infrastructure monitoring and control may face severe consequences if this vulnerability is exploited. The requirement for user interaction to exploit this vulnerability does not diminish its threat level, as social engineering campaigns can easily trick users into visiting malicious pages or opening compromised files. Attackers can create convincing phishing campaigns or compromise legitimate websites to deliver the malicious payloads. The SYSTEM level execution capability means that successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and potential disruption of industrial processes. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where Ignition is used for OPC UA communications, making it a significant concern for OT (Operational Technology) security teams.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-38121 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent injection attacks, aligning with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering malicious traffic patterns. The principle of least privilege should be enforced through proper access controls and user permission management within the Ignition environment. Regular security updates and patches should be applied immediately upon availability, as this vulnerability affects the core web interface functionality. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual script execution patterns and suspicious parameter handling within the OPC UA client interface. Organizations should also consider implementing user awareness training to reduce the risk of successful social engineering attacks that could exploit this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the multi-stage attack approach that threat actors may employ.