CVE-2024-0803 in MELSEC-Q
Summary
by MITRE • 03/15/2024
Integer Overflow or Wraparound vulnerability in Mitsubishi Electric Corporation MELSEC-Q Series and MELSEC-L Series CPU modules allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to execute malicious code on a target product by sending a specially crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2024
The integer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-0803 affects Mitsubishi Electric Corporation's MELSEC-Q Series and MELSEC-L Series CPU modules, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote code execution without authentication. This vulnerability resides within the network communication protocols of these industrial control systems, specifically in how they handle packet processing and data validation. The flaw manifests when the system receives specially crafted network packets that trigger integer wraparound conditions during packet size calculations or buffer management operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and arithmetic overflow handling within the communication stack of the affected PLC modules. When processing network traffic, the system performs mathematical operations on packet sizes or sequence numbers that can exceed the maximum value representable by the integer data type used. This overflow condition causes the system to misinterpret packet boundaries, potentially leading to buffer overflows or memory corruption scenarios. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the network layer where legitimate communication occurs, making it difficult to distinguish between normal traffic and malicious payloads.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to industrial control systems as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely without requiring authentication credentials. The implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially compromise entire industrial processes and supply chains. Attackers could manipulate production processes, cause operational disruptions, or even create safety hazards in environments where these PLCs control critical infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the network, making traditional perimeter-based security measures ineffective against this threat vector.
The attack surface for CVE-2024-0803 encompasses all network-connected MELSEC-Q and MELSEC-L Series PLCs that are configured to accept external communication. This includes systems in manufacturing facilities, power generation plants, water treatment centers, and other industrial environments where these Mitsubishi modules are deployed. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which specifically addresses issues related to arithmetic operations that exceed the bounds of the data type used for storage. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566.001 for Phishing, as attackers could leverage the remote execution capability to establish persistent access and deploy additional malware.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate affected PLCs from general network access, disabling unnecessary network services on the affected devices, and applying firmware updates provided by Mitsubishi Electric. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify additional exposure points within industrial control system environments. The remediation process requires careful planning to avoid disrupting critical operations while ensuring that all affected devices receive proper security updates from the vendor.