CVE-2024-0220 in Automation Studio
Summary
by MITRE • 02/22/2024
B&R Automation Studio Upgrade Service and B&R Technology Guarding use insufficient cryptography for communication to the upgrade and the licensing servers. A network-based attacker could exploit the vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the products or sniff sensitive data.
Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data, Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information, Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection'), Inadequate Encryption Strength vulnerability in B&R Industrial Automation B&R Automation Studio (Upgrade Service modules), B&R Industrial Automation Technology Guarding.This issue affects B&R Automation Studio: <4.6; Technology Guarding: <1.4.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-0220 represents a critical weakness in B&R Industrial Automation's software ecosystem, specifically affecting the Upgrade Service and Technology Guarding components. This flaw stems from insufficient cryptographic measures during communication with upgrade and licensing servers, creating a pathway for malicious actors to compromise system integrity and access sensitive information. The vulnerability manifests through multiple interconnected weaknesses that collectively undermine the security posture of industrial automation systems. The affected versions include B&R Automation Studio versions prior to 4.6 and Technology Guarding versions prior to 1.4.0, indicating a widespread impact across legacy deployments that remain prevalent in industrial environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves the transmission of sensitive data in cleartext format, which directly maps to CWE-312 (Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information) and CWE-326 (Inadequate Encryption Strength). Network-based attackers can leverage this weakness to intercept communications between automation systems and server infrastructure, potentially capturing authentication credentials, licensing information, and configuration data. The insufficient cryptography implementation creates opportunities for man-in-the-middle attacks where malicious actors can eavesdrop on network traffic to gather intelligence for further exploitation. Additionally, the vulnerability exposes systems to code injection attacks through improper control of code generation processes, as highlighted by CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code) and CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component). These combined weaknesses enable attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-0220 extends beyond simple data interception, creating significant risks for industrial control systems and operational technology environments. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to critical automation infrastructure, potentially disrupting production processes or gaining persistent access to industrial networks. The vulnerability affects the core communication mechanisms that ensure software integrity and licensing compliance, making it particularly dangerous for environments where system reliability and security are paramount. Industrial environments utilizing B&R Automation Studio and Technology Guarding components face increased risk of supply chain attacks or targeted intrusions that could compromise entire production facilities. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these tools are commonly deployed in critical infrastructure sectors where system availability and data integrity are essential.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-0220 should prioritize immediate software updates to versions 4.6 and 1.4.0 respectively, as these releases contain the necessary cryptographic improvements to address the identified weaknesses. Organizations should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, utilizing the ATT&CK framework's T1046 (Network Service Scanning) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) techniques for threat detection. Network administrators should deploy encryption controls such as TLS 1.3 or higher for all communications with upgrade and licensing servers, ensuring that sensitive data is protected during transmission. Additional protective measures include implementing network access controls, regular security assessments, and monitoring for unusual communication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-312, CWE-326, and CWE-94 emphasizes the need for comprehensive cryptographic security reviews of industrial automation systems, particularly those handling sensitive operational data and control functions.