CVE-2024-31853 in SICAM TOOLBOX II
Summary
by MITRE • 07/08/2025
A vulnerability has been identified in SICAM TOOLBOX II (All versions < V07.11). During establishment of a https connection to the TLS server of a managed device, the affected application doesn't check the extended key usage attribute of that device's certificate. This could allow an attacker to execute an on-path network (MitM) attack.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2025
The vulnerability identified in SICAM TOOLBOX II affects all versions prior to V07.11 and represents a critical weakness in the application's secure communication protocols. This issue manifests during the establishment of HTTPS connections to TLS servers of managed devices, where the application fails to validate the extended key usage attribute present in the device certificates. The extended key usage attribute serves as a crucial security mechanism that defines the purposes for which a certificate may be used, particularly in distinguishing between different types of cryptographic operations and ensuring proper certificate authorization. Without this validation, the system becomes susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks that exploit the lack of proper certificate authentication. The vulnerability directly impacts the integrity of the secure communication channel between the SICAM TOOLBOX II application and managed devices, potentially allowing attackers to intercept, modify, or redirect network traffic without detection.
The technical flaw stems from the application's insufficient certificate validation process, specifically its failure to verify the extended key usage extension within X.509 certificates. This validation is essential for ensuring that certificates are being used for their intended purposes, particularly in server authentication scenarios where the certificate should be explicitly marked for use in TLS server authentication. The absence of this check creates a pathway for attackers to potentially substitute malicious certificates that may appear valid to the application but lack proper authorization for the specific cryptographic operations required. This weakness aligns with CWE-295, which addresses improper certificate validation, and represents a failure in implementing proper certificate chain validation procedures. The vulnerability can be exploited through network-based attacks where an adversary positions themselves between the communicating parties, leveraging the lack of extended key usage verification to establish fraudulent secure connections.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for industrial control systems and network management environments where SICAM TOOLBOX II is deployed. Organizations using this software may face unauthorized access to critical network infrastructure, potential data exfiltration, and disruption of normal operational procedures. The man-in-the-middle attack capability allows adversaries to potentially modify configuration data, inject malicious commands, or gain unauthorized administrative access to managed devices. This threat is particularly concerning in industrial environments where network security is paramount for operational technology systems, as it could lead to cascading failures or security breaches that compromise entire network segments. The vulnerability essentially undermines the trust model that secure communication protocols are designed to establish, making it easier for attackers to compromise the integrity of network communications.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate software updates to version V07.11 or later, which presumably addresses the certificate validation issue. Organizations should also implement additional network security measures including network segmentation, intrusion detection systems, and monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate man-in-the-middle activity. The implementation of proper certificate management practices, including regular certificate validation and monitoring, should be enforced. Security teams should conduct thorough network assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and establish baseline network behavior for normal operations. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability relates to T1566 (Phishing) and T1046 (Network Service Scanning) as attackers may use these techniques to establish the initial foothold for network-based attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls and additional authentication mechanisms to reduce the attack surface and provide defense-in-depth measures against such vulnerabilities.