CVE-2024-54005 in COMOS
Summary
by MITRE • 12/10/2024
A vulnerability has been identified in COMOS V10.3 (All versions < V10.3.3.5.8), COMOS V10.4.0 (All versions), COMOS V10.4.1 (All versions), COMOS V10.4.2 (All versions), COMOS V10.4.3 (All versions < V10.4.3.0.47), COMOS V10.4.4 (All versions < V10.4.4.2), COMOS V10.4.4.1 (All versions < V10.4.4.1.21). The PDMS/E3D Engineering Interface improperly handles XML External Entity (XXE) entries when communicating with an external application. This could allow an attacker to extract any file with a known location on the user's system or accessible network folders by injecting malicious data into the communication channel between the two systems.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2024
This vulnerability resides within the COMOS software suite, specifically affecting multiple versions of the PDMS/E3D Engineering Interface component. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that stems from improper handling of XML External Entity processing, creating an XXE injection vulnerability that can be exploited by remote attackers. The affected versions span across COMOS V10.3 through V10.4.4.1, indicating a widespread issue affecting the entire product line. The vulnerability manifests when the system communicates with external applications through XML-based interfaces, where the software fails to properly sanitize external entity references in incoming XML data streams.
The technical exploitation of this XXE vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized file access operations by crafting malicious XML payloads that reference external entities. When the system processes these malformed XML entries, it inadvertently resolves external entity references and can retrieve files from the local filesystem or network-accessible directories. This occurs because the XML parser within the PDMS/E3D interface does not properly restrict external entity resolution, allowing attackers to specify arbitrary file paths or network locations that the system attempts to access. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the XML parsing layer, where attackers can leverage the system's legitimate XML processing capabilities to extract sensitive information without proper authentication or authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential for broader system compromise and data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage the XXE vulnerability to access configuration files, user credentials stored in local repositories, system logs, and potentially sensitive engineering data that may be stored in accessible network locations. The attack surface is particularly concerning in industrial environments where COMOS is used for critical infrastructure management, as the extracted data could include proprietary engineering designs, operational parameters, or security configurations that could be used for further attacks. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 (Phishing via Service) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) when attackers use the vulnerability to establish initial access or lateral movement within network environments.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected versions to COMOS V10.3.3.5.8, V10.4.3.0.47, V10.4.4.2, and V10.4.4.1.21, which contain the necessary security fixes for XXE processing. Organizations should also implement XML parser configuration changes that disable external entity resolution and DTD processing entirely within the affected systems. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit communication between the PDMS/E3D interface and untrusted external systems. Additionally, implementing monitoring solutions that detect unusual XML processing patterns or file access attempts can help identify potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all industrial control systems that utilize COMOS to identify similar XXE vulnerabilities in other components that may be susceptible to the same class of attack.