SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information
CVE-2022-42916 is a high-severity cleartext transmission of sensitive information vulnerability in SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP from Siemens, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version V3.1.5 as the first without the flaw, so updating SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 2.51% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 85% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP to V3.1.5 or a later version.
- Update SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP to V3.1.5 or a later version.
- Update SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP to V3.1.5 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on curl.se for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siemens | SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP | V3.1.0 up to, but not including, V3.1.5 | V3.1.5 |
| Siemens | SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP | V3.1.0 up to, but not including, V3.1.5 | V3.1.5 |
| Siemens | SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP | V3.1.0 up to, but not including, V3.1.5 | V3.1.5 |
| Haxx | Curl | 7.77.0 up to, but not including, 7.86.0 | 7.86.0 |
| Fedora Project | Fedora | 35; 36; 37 | Not stated |
| Apple | macOS | before 12.6.3; 13.0 up to, but not including, 13.2 | 12.6.3, 13.2 |
| Splunk | Universal Forwarder | 8.2.0 up to, but not including, 8.2.12; 9.0.0 up to, but not including, 9.0.6; 9.1.0 | 8.2.12, 9.0.6 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | NVD |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CISA (ADP) |
Official description
In curl before 7.86.0, the HSTS check could be bypassed to trick it into staying with HTTP. Using its HSTS support, curl can be instructed to use HTTPS directly (instead of using an insecure cleartext HTTP step) even when HTTP is provided in the URL. This mechanism could be bypassed if the host name in the given URL uses IDN characters that get replaced with ASCII counterparts as part of the IDN conversion, e.g., using the character UTF-8 U+3002 (IDEOGRAPHIC FULL STOP) instead of the common ASCII full stop of U+002E (.). The earliest affected version is 7.77.0 2021-05-26.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information
The product transmits sensitive or security-critical data in cleartext in a communication channel that can be sniffed by unauthorized actors.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Before transmitting, encrypt the data using reliable, confidentiality-protecting cryptographic protocols.
- When using web applications with SSL, use SSL for the entire session from login to logout, not just for the initial login page.
- When designing hardware platforms, ensure that approved encryption algorithms (such as those recommended by NIST) protect paths from security critical data to trusted user applications.
More Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information vulnerabilities (CWE-319)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Third-party and government advisories
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Jan/19Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2023/Jan/20Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2022/12/21/1Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/37YEVVC6NAF6H7UHH6YA…Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/HVU3IMZCKR4VE6KJ4GCW…Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/Q27V5YYMXUVI6PRZQVEC…Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/202212-01Third Party Advisory
- support.apple.com/kb/HT213604Third Party Advisory
- support.apple.com/kb/HT213605Third Party Advisory
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
Recent Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.6 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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