CVE-2023-5405 in Experion Server
Summary
by MITRE • 04/17/2024
Server information leak for the CDA Server process memory can occur when an error is generated in response to a specially crafted message. See Honeywell Security Notification for recommendations on upgrading and versioning.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-5405 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the CDA Server process memory management system. This vulnerability arises from improper error handling mechanisms that fail to adequately sanitize memory contents when processing malformed or specially crafted input messages. The issue specifically manifests during error generation phases where sensitive server information may inadvertently be exposed through memory dumps or error response structures. The vulnerability impacts Honeywell security systems and represents a significant risk to operational security and system integrity.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management practices within the CDA Server application. When the system encounters an error condition triggered by maliciously constructed messages, the error handling routine fails to properly clear or mask sensitive data that remains in memory. This memory leakage can expose critical system information including configuration parameters, user credentials, system identifiers, and potentially cryptographic keys. The flaw aligns with CWE-200, which addresses the improper exposure of sensitive information, and demonstrates poor defensive programming practices in error handling contexts. The vulnerability operates at the application level and can be exploited through network-based attacks that send crafted payloads to the affected server process.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-5405 extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain insights into the internal architecture of the security system, including server configurations, network topology information, and potentially user account details. This reconnaissance data can significantly aid in planning subsequent attacks, including privilege escalation attempts and targeted exploitation of other system components. The vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to map system internals and identify additional weaknesses within the Honeywell security infrastructure, making it a valuable target for advanced persistent threat actors. The exposure of server memory contents can also violate compliance requirements under frameworks such as pci dss and iso 27001, which mandate protection of sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-5405 must prioritize immediate remediation through official Honeywell security updates and patches. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to affected CDA Server processes and deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious message patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of proper error handling procedures that ensure memory sanitization during error conditions represents a fundamental defensive measure. Security teams should also consider deploying application firewalls and input validation controls to prevent malformed messages from reaching the vulnerable server components. According to ATT&CK framework technique T1082, this vulnerability could enable adversaries to gather system information, while T1190 represents the initial access vector through which attackers might exploit the memory leak for further system compromise. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar memory handling issues across the organization's security infrastructure.