CVE-2023-4985 in InPlant SCADA
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2023
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Supcon InPlant SCADA up to 20230901. Affected is an unknown function of the file Project.xml. The manipulation leads to improper authentication. An attack has to be approached locally. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-239796. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4985 represents a critical security flaw in Supcon InPlant SCADA software version 20230901 and earlier, exposing a significant weakness in the system's authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability resides within the Project.xml file, which serves as a critical configuration component for the SCADA system's operational parameters and user access controls. The flaw allows for improper authentication procedures that could enable unauthorized access to industrial control systems, potentially compromising the integrity and availability of critical infrastructure operations. The vulnerability's classification as critical underscores the severe implications for operational technology environments where SCADA systems manage essential processes in manufacturing, energy, and other industrial sectors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper authentication handling within the Project.xml file processing functionality of the Supcon InPlant SCADA platform. This flaw likely involves inadequate validation of user credentials or session management during the system's initialization or configuration loading processes. When the system processes the Project.xml file, it fails to properly authenticate users attempting to access or modify system parameters, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass normal access controls. The vulnerability's local attack requirement suggests that exploitation occurs through direct system access rather than remote network-based attacks, though this does not diminish the operational risk as local access in industrial environments often represents a significant compromise opportunity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate industrial processes, alter system configurations, or gain control over critical infrastructure components. In industrial control environments, SCADA systems manage processes that can have cascading effects on safety, production, and environmental compliance. The disclosed exploit demonstrates that malicious actors can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to industrial control systems, potentially leading to operational disruptions, safety hazards, or even physical damage to equipment. This risk is particularly concerning given the critical infrastructure applications where Supcon InPlant SCADA systems are commonly deployed.
Organizations utilizing Supcon InPlant SCADA systems should implement immediate mitigations including disabling unnecessary local access, implementing robust access controls, and monitoring for unauthorized system modifications. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure efforts creates additional operational risk as no official patches or updates are available to address the vulnerability. Security professionals should consider implementing network segmentation to limit local access to critical systems, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, and conducting thorough security assessments of industrial control environments. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and represents a significant concern under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques. The public disclosure of this exploit means that threat actors have already developed capabilities to leverage this weakness, making immediate remediation essential for protecting operational technology environments from potential compromise.