EcoStruxure Control Expert: Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay
CVE-2022-45789 is a critical-severity authentication bypass by capture-replay vulnerability in EcoStruxure Control Expert from Schneider Electric, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected EcoStruxure Control Expert versions: All Versions. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.48% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 74% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of EcoStruxure Control Expert you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Read the advisory on download.schneider-electric.com 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
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE; 15 further products are omitted here. 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
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.1 | High | CNA (se.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.8 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
A CWE-294: Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay vulnerability exists that could cause execution of unauthorized Modbus functions on the controller when hijacking an authenticated Modbus session. Affected Products: EcoStruxure Control Expert (All Versions), EcoStruxure Process Expert (All Versions), Modicon M340 CPU - part numbers BMXP34* (All Versions), Modicon M580 CPU - part numbers BMEP* and BMEH* (All Versions), Modicon M580 CPU Safety - part numbers BMEP58*S and BMEH58*S (All Versions)
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay
A capture-replay flaw exists when the design of the product makes it possible for a malicious user to sniff network traffic and bypass authentication by replaying it to the server in question to the same effect as the original message (or with minor changes).
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Utilize some sequence or time stamping functionality along with a checksum which takes this into account in order to ensure that messages can be parsed only once.
- Since any attacker who can listen to traffic can see sequence numbers, it is necessary to sign messages with some kind of cryptography to ensure that sequence numbers are not simply doctored along with content.
More Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay vulnerabilities (CWE-294)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other vulnerabilities in EcoStruxure Control Expert
- 7.7 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
Recent Authentication Bypass by Capture-replay vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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