CVE-2024-51549 in ASPECT-Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE • 12/05/2024
Absolute File Traversal vulnerabilities allows access and modification of un-intended resources. Affected products:
ABB ASPECT - Enterprise v3.08.02; NEXUS Series v3.08.02; MATRIX Series v3.08.02
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2024
The CVE-2024-51549 vulnerability represents a critical absolute file traversal flaw affecting multiple ABB industrial control systems including ASPECT Enterprise v3.08.02, NEXUS Series v3.08.02, and MATRIX Series v3.08.02. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category of Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which is a well-established weakness in software security that enables attackers to access files outside of intended directories. The flaw specifically allows unauthorized access and modification of unintended system resources through improper input validation in file handling operations. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in industrial control environments where system integrity and operational security are paramount.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of file paths within the ABB control systems, enabling attackers to construct malicious file paths that bypass normal access controls. When the affected systems process file operations without proper sanitization of input parameters, attackers can exploit this weakness to traverse the file system hierarchy and access sensitive configuration files, system binaries, or other critical resources. The vulnerability manifests when user-supplied input is directly used in file operations without proper path validation, allowing for absolute path manipulation that can lead to unauthorized data access or modification.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-51549 is severe within industrial environments as it could potentially enable attackers to compromise the integrity of critical control systems. In ABB's industrial control infrastructure, this vulnerability could allow adversaries to modify system configurations, access proprietary operational data, or even inject malicious code into the control processes. The implications extend beyond simple data access as the ability to modify system resources directly impacts the availability and reliability of industrial operations. Attackers could potentially disrupt production processes, alter control parameters, or gain persistence within the industrial network through this vulnerability. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where these systems are connected to operational technology networks and may be exposed to external threats.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-51549 should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the affected ABB systems. Organizations should ensure that all file path operations include proper validation to prevent absolute path traversal attacks, with implementations following the principle of least privilege for file access operations. The recommended approach includes implementing strict input validation that filters or rejects any input containing path traversal sequences, while also applying proper access controls and file system permissions to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Security patches provided by ABB should be applied immediately, and network segmentation should be implemented to reduce the attack surface of these critical systems. Additionally, monitoring and logging of file access operations should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1074.001 for Data Staged and T1566.001 for Spearphishing Attachment, indicating potential attack vectors through malicious file operations that could leverage this weakness in industrial control environments.