CVE-2024-22081 in G5 Digital Fault Recorder
Summary
by MITRE • 03/20/2024
An issue was discovered in Elspec G5 digital fault recorder versions 1.1.4.15 and before. Unauthenticated memory corruption can occur in the HTTP header parsing mechanism.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-22081 affects Elspec G5 digital fault recorder devices running firmware versions 1.1.4.15 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in network service implementation. This issue stems from insufficient input validation within the HTTP header parsing component of the device's web server functionality, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities without requiring authentication credentials. The affected device operates as a specialized industrial cybersecurity tool designed for power system monitoring and fault analysis, making it a potential target for sophisticated attacks targeting critical infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests in the HTTP header parsing mechanism where the device fails to properly validate or sanitize incoming header data before processing. When malformed or malicious HTTP headers are sent to the device's web interface, the parsing routine does not adequately handle boundary conditions or unexpected input patterns, leading to memory corruption vulnerabilities. This type of vulnerability typically results from buffer overflows, heap corruption, or other memory management errors that occur when the application attempts to write data beyond allocated memory boundaries. The absence of authentication requirements means that any remote attacker can potentially trigger this vulnerability through network-based attacks, making the exploit surface significantly larger than authenticated vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-22081 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as memory corruption vulnerabilities can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution or system compromise. In industrial environments where these devices operate, such vulnerabilities represent serious risks to operational technology infrastructure, particularly in power grid monitoring systems where reliability and security are paramount. The G5 digital fault recorder serves as a critical component for detecting and analyzing electrical faults in power systems, making unauthorized access or system compromise potentially catastrophic for grid stability and safety. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to disrupt power system monitoring, potentially causing cascading failures or preventing legitimate operators from accessing critical fault data during emergency situations.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of industrial control systems and critical infrastructure protection frameworks, particularly when evaluating the security posture of power system monitoring equipment. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which covers stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and may also relate to CWE-122 for heap-based buffer overflows, depending on the specific implementation details. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1210 for exploitation of vulnerabilities in remote services. Organizations should immediately implement network segmentation to isolate affected devices, apply firmware updates from Elspec when available, and monitor network traffic for suspicious HTTP header patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in embedded systems and highlights the need for robust security testing of industrial network services, particularly those operating without authentication mechanisms.