1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

  • CVSS v3 7.8
  • ATTENTION: Low skill level to exploit
  • Vendor: Advantech
  • Equipment: WebAccess Node
  • Vulnerability: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource

2. RISK EVALUATION

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to escalate their privileges.

3. TECHNICAL DETAILS

3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS

The following versions of WebAccess Node, an HMI platform, are affected:

  • WebAccess Node: All versions prior to 9.0.1

3.2 VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW

3.2.1    INCORRECT PERMISSION ASSIGNMENT FOR CRITICAL RESOURCE CWE-732

The affected product has incorrect permissions set for resources used by specific services, which may allow code execution with system privileges. 

CVE-2020-16202 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 7.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

3.3 BACKGROUND

  • CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Critical Manufacturing, Energy, Water and Wastewater Systems
  • COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: East Asia, Europe, United States
  • COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: Taiwan

3.4 RESEARCHER

Mat Powell of Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative reported this vulnerability to CISA.

4. MITIGATIONS

Advantech has released update 9.0.1 to mitigate this vulnerability.

CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of this vulnerability. Specifically, users should:

  • Follow the principle of least privilege.

CISA reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures.

CISA also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS webpage on us-cert.gov. Several recommended practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies.

Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available on the ICS webpage on us-cert.gov in the Technical Information Paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B–Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies.

Organizations observing any suspected malicious activity should follow their established internal procedures and report their findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.

No known public exploits specifically target this vulnerability. This vulnerability is not exploitable remotely.

Source:

https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-20-261-01