SystemPlatform: Execution with Unnecessary Privileges
CVE-2023-33873 is a high-severity execution with unnecessary privileges vulnerability in SystemPlatform from AVEVA, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected SystemPlatform versions: 2020 R2 SP1 P01 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.24% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Communication Drivers to 2020 or a later version.
- Update Manufacturing Execution System to 2020 or a later version.
- Update Mobile Operator to 2020 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on aveva.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVEVA | SystemPlatform | 2020 R2 SP1 P01 and earlier | Not stated |
| AVEVA | Historian | 2020 R2 SP1 P01 and earlier | Not stated |
| AVEVA | Application Server | 2020 R2 SP1 P01 and earlier | Not stated |
| AVEVA | InTouch | 2020 R2 SP1 P01 and earlier | Not stated |
| AVEVA | Enterprise Licensing (formerly known as License Manager) | 3.7.002 and earlier | Not stated |
| AVEVA | Manufacturing Execution System (formerly known as Wonderware MES) | 2020 P01 and earlier | Not stated |
| AVEVA | Recipe Management | 2020 R2 Update 1 Patch 2 and earlier | Not stated |
| AVEVA | Batch Management | 2020 SP1 and earlier | Not stated |
| AVEVA | Edge (formerly known as Indusoft Web Studio) | 2020 R2 SP1 P01 and earlier | Not stated |
| AVEVA | Worktasks (formerly known as Workflow Management) | 2020 U2 and earlier | Not stated |
| AVEVA | Plant SCADA (formerly known as Citect) | 2020 R2 Update 15 and earlier | Not stated |
| AVEVA | Mobile Operator (formerly known as IntelaTrac Mobile Operator Rounds) | 2020 R1 and earlier | Not stated |
| AVEVA | Communication Drivers Pack | 2020 R2 SP1 and earlier | Not stated |
| AVEVA | Telemetry Server | 2020 R2 SP1 and earlier | Not stated |
| Aveva | Communication Drivers | before 2020; 2020 | 2020 |
| Aveva | Edge | 20.1.101 and earlier | Not stated |
| Aveva | Enterprise Licensing | 3.7.002 and earlier | Not stated |
| Aveva | Manufacturing Execution System | before 2020; 2020 | 2020 |
| Aveva | Mobile Operator | before 2020; 2020 | 2020 |
| Aveva | Plant Scada | before 2020; 2020 | 2020 |
| Aveva | System Platform | before 2020; 2020 | 2020 |
| Aveva | Work Tasks | before 2020; 2020 | 2020 |
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
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- 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:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | CNA (hq.dhs.gov) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.8 | High | NVD |
Official description
This privilege escalation vulnerability, if exploited, cloud allow a local OS-authenticated user with standard privileges to escalate to System privilege on the machine where these products are installed, resulting in complete compromise of the target machine.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Execution with Unnecessary Privileges
The product performs an operation at a privilege level that is higher than the minimum level required, which creates new weaknesses or amplifies the consequences of other weaknesses.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Run your code using the lowest privileges that are required to accomplish the necessary tasks. If possible, create isolated accounts with limited privileges that are only used for a single task. That way, a successful attack will not immediately give the attacker access to the rest of the software or its environment. For example, database applications rarely need to run as the database administrator, especially in day-to-day operations.
- Identify the functionality that requires additional privileges, such as access to privileged operating system resources. Wrap and centralize this functionality if possible, and isolate the privileged code as much as possible from other code. Raise privileges as late as possible, and drop them as soon as possible to avoid CWE-271. Avoid weaknesses such as CWE-288 and CWE-420 by protecting all possible communication channels that could interact with the privileged code, such as a secondary socket that is only intended to be accessed by administrators.
- Identify the functionality that requires additional privileges, such as access to privileged operating system resources. Wrap and centralize this functionality if possible, and isolate the privileged code as much as possible from other code. Raise privileges as late as possible, and drop them as soon as possible to avoid CWE-271. Avoid weaknesses such as CWE-288 and CWE-420 by protecting all possible communication channels that could interact with the privileged code, such as a secondary socket that is only intended to be accessed by administrators.
More Execution with Unnecessary Privileges vulnerabilities (CWE-250)
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
Third-party and government advisories
- cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-23-318-01Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource
Other vulnerabilities in SystemPlatform
- 7.1 High severity
Recent Execution with Unnecessary Privileges vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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