CVE-2023-42491 in Scada
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
EisBaer Scada - CWE-285: Improper Authorization
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2026
The EisBaer Scada system presents a critical authorization flaw classified as CWE-285 improper authorization, which fundamentally undermines the security posture of industrial control systems. This vulnerability allows unauthorized users to bypass legitimate access controls and gain elevated privileges within the SCADA environment, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate critical infrastructure operations. The flaw typically manifests when the system fails to properly verify user credentials or when privilege escalation mechanisms are inadequately implemented, enabling attackers to perform actions beyond their intended role permissions.
The technical implementation of this authorization weakness stems from insufficient validation of user identities and access levels within the SCADA framework. When users authenticate to the system, the authentication process may not adequately enforce role-based access controls or may fail to properly validate session tokens. This creates opportunities for privilege escalation attacks where an attacker with limited access can potentially elevate their privileges to administrative levels through manipulation of authorization checks or by exploiting insecure direct object references. The vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad by compromising confidentiality through unauthorized data access, integrity through potential unauthorized modifications, and availability through possible system disruption.
Operational impact of this improper authorization flaw extends beyond simple access violations to encompass significant risks for industrial operations. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain control over critical industrial processes, potentially leading to production disruptions, safety hazards, or financial losses. The attack surface becomes particularly dangerous in environments where SCADA systems control physical processes such as power generation, water treatment, or manufacturing operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to privilege escalation techniques and can enable lateral movement within the network once initial access is achieved, potentially allowing attackers to compromise additional system components.
Mitigation strategies for this CWE-285 implementation should focus on strengthening authentication mechanisms and implementing robust access control policies. Organizations must ensure proper role-based access controls are enforced throughout the SCADA environment, with regular audits of user permissions and access logs. The implementation of multi-factor authentication, secure session management, and comprehensive logging of all access attempts can significantly reduce exploitation risks. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing specifically targeting authorization mechanisms should be conducted to identify potential weaknesses in the system's access control implementation. Network segmentation and least-privilege principles should be enforced to limit the potential damage from any successful unauthorized access attempts, while compliance with industrial security standards such as NIST SP 800-82 and IEC 62443 provides framework guidance for proper authorization controls in industrial environments.