CVE-2024-2453 in WebAccess
Summary
by MITRE • 03/22/2024
There is an SQL injection vulnerability in Advantech WebAccess/SCADA software that allows an authenticated attacker to remotely inject SQL code in the database. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to read or modify data on the remote database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-2453 represents a critical security flaw within Advantech WebAccess/SCADA software systems that operates at the intersection of industrial control systems and database security. This vulnerability resides within the software's handling of user inputs and demonstrates how industrial automation platforms can become entry points for sophisticated cyber attacks targeting critical infrastructure. The flaw specifically manifests as an SQL injection vulnerability that requires authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by insiders or compromised legitimate users to gain unauthorized access to sensitive operational data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the WebAccess/SCADA software's database interaction mechanisms. When authenticated users submit data through the application's interface, the software fails to adequately sanitize or parameterize the inputs before incorporating them into SQL queries. This allows an attacker to craft malicious input that gets executed as part of the database query, effectively bypassing normal security controls. The vulnerability operates under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is directly incorporated into SQL command structures without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it enables remote exploitation, meaning attackers do not need physical access to the system to leverage this weakness.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to industrial environments that rely on Advantech WebAccess/SCADA for critical infrastructure management. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to read sensitive operational data, modify database contents, or potentially escalate privileges within the system. The implications extend beyond simple data theft as the compromised database might contain critical operational parameters, configuration settings, or historical operational data that could be used to disrupt system operations or gain deeper insights into the industrial control environment. Organizations utilizing this software face potential operational disruptions, regulatory compliance issues, and increased risk of cascading failures within their industrial control systems. The vulnerability particularly affects the integrity and confidentiality of data within SCADA environments, which are often considered mission-critical for sectors such as energy, water treatment, manufacturing, and transportation systems.
The exploitation of CVE-2024-2453 aligns with tactics documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1046 for network service scanning, as attackers would need to identify the vulnerable endpoints and understand the database interaction patterns to successfully craft malicious payloads. Organizations should implement comprehensive network segmentation to isolate SCADA environments from general enterprise networks, deploy robust database activity monitoring solutions, and ensure that all authentication mechanisms are properly hardened. Additionally, regular security assessments of industrial control systems should include thorough penetration testing focused on database interaction points, and vulnerability management programs must prioritize patching of industrial control system components. The remediation approach should involve immediate implementation of input validation controls, database query parameterization, and comprehensive access controls to prevent unauthorized database access while maintaining operational functionality of the industrial control systems.