1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
-
CVSS v3 7.5
- ATTENTION: Exploitable from the same local network segment (OSI Layer 2)
- Vendor: Siemens
- Equipment: SCALANCE X switches, RUGGEDCOM WiMAX, RFID 181-EIP, and SIMATIC RF182C
- Vulnerability: Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls
2. UPDATE INFORMATION
This updated advisory is a follow-up to the original advisory titled ICSA-18-165-01 Siemens SCALANCE X Switches, RUGGEDCOM WiMAX, RFID 181-EIP, and SIMATIC RF182C that was published June 14, 2018, on the NCCIC/ICS-CERT website.
3. RISK EVALUATION
By sending a specially-crafted DHCP response to a client’s DHCP request, an unprivileged remote attacker could execute arbitrary code.
4. TECHNICAL DETAILS
4.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS
Siemens reports the vulnerability affects the following products:
- RFID 181-EIP: All versions,
- RUGGEDCOM WiMAX: v4.4, v4.5, v5.0, and v5.1,
- SCALANCE X-200: All versions prior to v5.2.3,
- SCALANCE X-200 IRT: All versions prior to v5.4.1,
- SCALANCE X-204RNA: All versions,
- SCALANCE X-300: All versions,
- SCALANCE X408: All versions,
- SCALANCE X414: All versions, and
- SIMATIC RF182C: All versions.
4.2 VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW
4.2.1 PERMISSIONS, PRIVILEGES, AND ACCESS CONTROLS CWE-264
Unprivileged remote attackers located in the same local network segment (OSI Layer 2) could gain remote code execution on the affected products by sending a specially-crafted DHCP response to a client’s DHCP request.
CVE-2018-4833 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 7.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
4.3 BACKGROUND
- CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Chemical, Energy, Food and Agriculture, Healthcare and Public Health, Transportation Systems, and Water and Wastewater Systems
- COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide
- COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: Germany
4.4 RESEARCHER
Dr. Ang Cui and Joseph Pantoga from Red Balloon Security reported this vulnerability to Siemens Product CERT.
5. MITIGATIONS
Siemens has provided updates for the following products to fix the vulnerability:
- RUGGEDCOM WiMAX: Update to V5.2
https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/ww/en/view/109762466
- SCALANCE X-200: Update to v5.2.3
https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/cn/en/view/109758142
- SCALANCE X-200 IRT: Update to v5.4.1
https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/de/en/view/109758144
Siemens has identified the following specific workarounds and mitigations that customers can apply to reduce the risk:
- Use static IP addresses instead of DHCP
- Apply cell protection concept: https://www.siemens.com/cert/operational-guidelines-industrial-security
- Apply Defense-in-Depth: https://www.siemens.com/cert/operational-guidelines-industrial-security
As a general security measure, Siemens strongly recommends protecting network access to devices with appropriate mechanisms. In order to operate the devices in a protected IT environment, Siemens recommends configuring the environment according to Siemens’ operational guidelines for Industrial Security (Download: https://www.siemens.com/cert/operational-guidelines-industrial-security), and following the recommendations in the product manuals.
Additional information on Industrial Security by Siemens can be found at:
https://www.siemens.com/industrialsecurity
For more information on this vulnerability and associated software updates, please see Siemens security advisory SSA-181018 on their website:
https://www.siemens.com/cert/advisories
NCCIC recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of this vulnerability. Specifically, users should:
- Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and/or systems, and ensure that they are not accessible from the Internet.
- Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls, and isolate them from the business network.
- When remote access is required, use secure methods, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), recognizing that VPNs may have vulnerabilities and should be updated to the most current version available. Also recognize that VPN is only as secure as the connected devices.
NCCIC reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures.
NCCIC also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS-CERT web page. 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-CERT website 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 NCCIC for tracking and correlation against other incidents.
No known public exploits specifically target this vulnerability. High skill level is needed to exploit.
Source:
https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-165-01