CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-31148NVD status: Modified

An Improper Input Validation vulnerability in the Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories…

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2023-31148 is a high-severity improper input validation vulnerability in SEL-3505 from Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions R150-V2, R149-V4, R148-V7 as the first without the flaw, so updating SEL-3505 to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.09% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 66% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update SEL-3505 to R150-V2 or R149-V4 or R148-V7 or R147-V6, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update SEL-3505-3 to R150-V2 or R149-V4 or R148-V7 or R147-V6, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  3. Update SEL-3530 to R150-V2 or R149-V4 or R148-V7 or R147-V6, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  4. Read the advisory on selinc.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Schweitzer Engineering LaboratoriesSEL-3505R132-V0 up to, but not including, R150-V2; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R149-V4; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R148-V7; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R147-V6R150-V2, R149-V4, R148-V7, R147-V6
Schweitzer Engineering LaboratoriesSEL-3505-3R132-V0 up to, but not including, R150-V2; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R149-V4; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R148-V7; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R147-V6R150-V2, R149-V4, R148-V7, R147-V6
Schweitzer Engineering LaboratoriesSEL-3530R132-V0 up to, but not including, R150-V2; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R149-V4; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R148-V7; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R147-V6R150-V2, R149-V4, R148-V7, R147-V6
Schweitzer Engineering LaboratoriesSEL-3530-4R132-V0 up to, but not including, R150-V2; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R149-V4; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R148-V7; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R147-V6R150-V2, R149-V4, R148-V7, R147-V6
Schweitzer Engineering LaboratoriesSEL-3532R132-V0 up to, but not including, R150-V2; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R149-V4; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R148-V7; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R147-V6R150-V2, R149-V4, R148-V7, R147-V6
Schweitzer Engineering LaboratoriesSEL-3555R134-V0 up to, but not including, R150-V2; R134-V0 up to, but not including, R149-V4; R134-V0 up to, but not including, R148-V7; R134-V0 up to, but not including, R147-V6R150-V2, R149-V4, R148-V7, R147-V6
Schweitzer Engineering LaboratoriesSEL-3560SR144-V2 up to, but not including, R150-V2; R144-V2 up to, but not including, R149-V4; R144-V2 up to, but not including, R148-V7; R144-V2 up to, but not including, R147-V6R150-V2, R149-V4, R148-V7, R147-V6
Schweitzer Engineering LaboratoriesSEL-3560ER144-V2 up to, but not including, R150-V2; R144-V2 up to, but not including, R149-V4; R144-V2 up to, but not including, R148-V7; R144-V2 up to, but not including, R147-V6R150-V2, R149-V4, R148-V7, R147-V6
Schweitzer Engineering LaboratoriesSEL-2241 RTAC moduleR132-V0 up to, but not including, R150-V2; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R149-V4; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R148-V7; R132-V0 up to, but not including, R147-V6R150-V2, R149-V4, R148-V7, R147-V6
Schweitzer Engineering LaboratoriesSEL-3350R148-V0 up to, but not including, R150-V2; R148-V0 up to, but not including, R149-V4; R148-V0 up to, but not including, R148-V7R150-V2, R149-V4, R148-V7
SelincSel-2241 Rtac Module Firmwarer132-v0 up to, but not including, r150-v2r150-v2
SelincSel-3350 Firmwarer148-v0 up to, but not including, r150-v2r150-v2
SelincSel-3505 Firmwarer132-v0 up to, but not including, r150-v2r150-v2
SelincSel-3505-3 Firmwarer132-v0 up to, but not including, r150-v2r150-v2
SelincSel-3530 Firmwarer132-v0 up to, but not including, r150-v2r150-v2
SelincSel-3530-4 Firmwarer132-v0 up to, but not including, r150-v2r150-v2
SelincSel-3532 Firmwarer132-v0 up to, but not including, r150-v2r150-v2
SelincSel-3555 Firmwarer134-v0 up to, but not including, r150-v2r150-v2
SelincSel-3560e Firmwarer144-v2 up to, but not including, r150-v2r150-v2
SelincSel-3560s Firmwarer144-v2 up to, but not including, r150-v2r150-v2

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
LowA basic user account is enough.
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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.19.1CriticalCNA (selinc.com)
CVSS 3.18.8HighNVD

Official description

An Improper Input Validation vulnerability in the Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Real-Time Automation Controller (SEL RTAC) Web Interface could allow a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code. See SEL Service Bulletin dated 2022-11-15 for more details.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Input Validation

The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Consider using language-theoretic security (LangSec) techniques that characterize inputs using a formal language and build recognizers for that language. This effectively requires parsing to be a distinct layer that effectively enforces a boundary between raw input and internal data representations, instead of allowing parser code to be scattered throughout the program, where it could be subject to errors or inconsistencies that create weaknesses.
  • Use an input validation framework such as Struts or the OWASP ESAPI Validation API. Note that using a framework does not automatically address all input validation problems; be mindful of weaknesses that could arise from misusing the framework itself (CWE-1173).
  • Understand all the potential areas where untrusted inputs can enter the product, including but not limited to: parameters or arguments, cookies, anything read from the network, environment variables, reverse DNS lookups, query results, request headers, URL components, e-mail, files, filenames, databases, and any external systems that provide data to the application. Remember that such inputs may be obtained indirectly through API calls.

More Improper Input Validation vulnerabilities (CWE-20)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Third-party and government advisories

Other vulnerabilities in SEL-3505

All SEL-3505 vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Input Validation vulnerabilities

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