CVE-2024-45476 in Tecnomatix Plant Simulation V2302
Summary
by MITRE • 10/08/2024
A vulnerability has been identified in Tecnomatix Plant Simulation V2302 (All versions < V2302.0016), Tecnomatix Plant Simulation V2404 (All versions < V2404.0005). The affected applications contain a null pointer dereference vulnerability while parsing specially crafted WRL files. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to crash the application causing denial of service condition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/11/2024
This vulnerability resides within Tecnomatix Plant Simulation software versions prior to specific patch releases, representing a critical null pointer dereference flaw that manifests during the parsing of maliciously crafted WRL (World file) format data. The issue affects both V2302 and V2404 product lines, indicating a widespread impact across multiple version streams of this industrial simulation platform. WRL files are commonly used for 3D scene description and visualization within simulation environments, making this attack vector particularly concerning for operational technology systems that rely on such file formats for complex manufacturing process modeling. The vulnerability operates at the application level where the software fails to properly validate incoming file structures before attempting to dereference pointers, creating a condition where a null reference is accessed during normal file processing operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the application attempts to process a specially crafted WRL file that contains malformed or incomplete data structures. During the parsing sequence, the software encounters a null pointer reference that has not been properly initialized or validated, leading to an abrupt application termination. This type of flaw falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses null pointer dereference conditions, and represents a classic denial of service vulnerability that can be reliably triggered by an unauthenticated attacker. The vulnerability does not appear to enable arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation, but rather focuses on disrupting normal application operations through controlled crash conditions. The attack surface is limited to users who interact with WRL file imports, making it particularly relevant for manufacturing environments where simulation data exchange is common.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise critical manufacturing workflows and production planning activities. Industrial environments using Tecnomatix Plant Simulation for process optimization, capacity planning, and facility design may experience significant downtime when attackers exploit this flaw through malicious file attachments or compromised data sources. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through simple file manipulation, making it attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt manufacturing operations. Organizations relying on this simulation software for critical production planning, facility layout design, or process optimization may face substantial operational delays and productivity losses when targeted by such attacks. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version streams suggests that organizations may be exposed across different deployment environments and operational phases of their manufacturing processes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patch application to versions V2302.0016 and V2404.0005 which contain the necessary code fixes for proper null pointer validation during WRL file parsing. Network segmentation and file access controls should be implemented to restrict WRL file imports from untrusted sources, while implementing strict file validation procedures before processing any external data. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual application termination patterns and file import activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxed environments for WRL file processing and establishing secure file transfer protocols to prevent malicious file injection. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers network denial of service attacks, and represents a clear operational technology security gap that requires immediate attention to prevent potential cascading effects on manufacturing operations and supply chain processes.