CVE-2023-46509 in SolarView Compact
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2023
An issue in Contec SolarView Compact v.6.0 and before allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code via the texteditor.php component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-46509 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the Contec SolarView Compact software version 6.0 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the texteditor.php component, which serves as a web interface for text manipulation within the solar monitoring system. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before processing. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that bypass security controls and gain unauthorized access to the underlying system. The vulnerability exists due to improper handling of file upload operations and text processing functions that do not adequately distinguish between legitimate user input and potentially harmful code sequences. This represents a classic example of a command injection vulnerability where attacker-controlled data flows directly into system execution contexts.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the texteditor.php component which likely accepts file uploads or text input without sufficient validation. When an attacker submits malicious content through this interface, the system processes the data without proper sanitization, allowing arbitrary code execution on the target server. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-94, which describes improper control of generation of code, where the application allows execution of code that should not be executed. This flaw enables attackers to execute commands with the privileges of the web application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication and can be exploited remotely, making it highly attractive to threat actors seeking persistent access to industrial control systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-46509 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential system compromise and data breaches within industrial solar monitoring environments. Organizations utilizing Contec SolarView Compact systems face significant risk of unauthorized access to critical infrastructure monitoring data, system configuration files, and potentially sensitive operational information. The vulnerability could enable attackers to manipulate solar energy monitoring data, disrupt system operations, or establish persistent backdoors for future access. Given that solar monitoring systems often operate in critical infrastructure environments, this vulnerability poses risks to energy grid stability and operational continuity. The exploitation could also lead to lateral movement within network environments as attackers attempt to escalate privileges and access additional systems. The vulnerability's presence in industrial control systems aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter, and T1566, which covers credential harvesting through social engineering or system exploitation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Contec, implementing network segmentation to isolate critical monitoring systems, and deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter traffic to the vulnerable texteditor.php component. Access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the vulnerable interface to trusted networks only, while regular security audits should verify that no unauthorized modifications have occurred. System monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual command execution patterns or unauthorized file uploads that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in industrial control systems, particularly those handling sensitive operational data. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify exploitation attempts targeting similar vulnerabilities in industrial control environments, as these systems often face unique threat landscapes that differ significantly from traditional enterprise environments.