CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-38380NVD status: Modified

SIMATIC CP 1242-7 V2 (incl. SIPLUS variants): Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime

CVE-2023-38380 is a high-severity missing release of memory after effective lifetime vulnerability in SIMATIC CP 1242-7 V2 (incl. SIPLUS variants) 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 V3.4.29 as the first without the flaw, so updating SIMATIC CP 1242-7 V2 (incl. SIPLUS variants) to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.96% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 62% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update SIMATIC CP 1242-7 V2 (incl. SIPLUS variants) to V3.4.29 or a later version.
  2. Update SIMATIC CP 1243-1 (incl. SIPLUS variants) to V3.4.29 or a later version.
  3. Update SIMATIC CP 1243-1 IEC (incl. SIPLUS variants) to V3.4.29 or a later version.
  4. Read the advisory on cert-portal.siemens.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  5. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
SiemensSIMATIC CP 1242-7 V2 (incl. SIPLUS variants)before V3.4.29V3.4.29
SiemensSIMATIC CP 1243-1 (incl. SIPLUS variants)before V3.4.29V3.4.29
SiemensSIMATIC CP 1243-1 DNP3 (incl. SIPLUS variants)all versionsNot stated
SiemensSIMATIC CP 1243-1 IEC (incl. SIPLUS variants)before V3.4.29V3.4.29
SiemensSIMATIC CP 1243-7 LTEbefore V3.4.29V3.4.29
SiemensSIMATIC CP 1243-8 IRCbefore V3.4.29V3.4.29
SiemensSIMATIC CP 1542SP-1before V2.3V2.3
SiemensSIMATIC CP 1542SP-1 IRCbefore V2.3V2.3
SiemensSIMATIC CP 1543-1before V3.0.37V3.0.37
SiemensSIMATIC CP 1543SP-1before V2.3V2.3
SiemensSINAMICS S210 (6SL5...)V6.1 up to, but not including, V6.1 HF2V6.1 HF2
SiemensSIPLUS ET 200SP CP 1542SP-1 IRC TX RAILbefore V2.3V2.3
SiemensSIPLUS ET 200SP CP 1543SP-1 ISECbefore V2.3V2.3
SiemensSIPLUS ET 200SP CP 1543SP-1 ISEC TX RAILbefore V2.3V2.3
SiemensSIPLUS NET CP 1543-1before V3.0.37V3.0.37
Siemens6gk7243-8rx30-0xe0 FirmwareNot specified in the recordNot stated
Siemens6gk7543-1ax00-0xe0 FirmwareNot specified in the recordNot stated
Siemens6ag1543-1ax00-2xe0 FirmwareNot specified in the recordNot stated
SiemensSimatic Cp 1242-7 V2 FirmwareNot specified in the recordNot stated
SiemensSimatic Cp 1243-1 FirmwareNot specified in the recordNot stated
SiemensSimatic Cp 1243-1 Dnp3 FirmwareNot specified in the recordNot stated
SiemensSimatic Cp 1243-1 Iec FirmwareNot specified in the recordNot stated
SiemensSimatic Cp 1243-7 Lte FirmwareNot specified in the recordNot stated
SiemensSinamics S210 Firmware5.1; 5.2; 6.1Not stated

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
NoneNo data is disclosed.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by CNA (siemens.com).

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 4.08.7HighCNA (siemens.com)
CVSS 3.17.5HighCNA (siemens.com)

Official description

A vulnerability has been identified in SIMATIC CP 1242-7 V2 (incl. SIPLUS variants) (All versions < V3.4.29), SIMATIC CP 1243-1 (incl. SIPLUS variants) (All versions < V3.4.29), SIMATIC CP 1243-1 DNP3 (incl. SIPLUS variants) (All versions), SIMATIC CP 1243-1 IEC (incl. SIPLUS variants) (All versions < V3.4.29), SIMATIC CP 1243-7 LTE (All versions < V3.4.29), SIMATIC CP 1243-8 IRC (6GK7243-8RX30-0XE0) (All versions < V3.4.29), SIMATIC CP 1542SP-1 (6GK7542-6UX00-0XE0) (All versions < V2.3), SIMATIC CP 1542SP-1 IRC (6GK7542-6VX00-0XE0) (All versions < V2.3), SIMATIC CP 1543-1 (6GK7543-1AX00-0XE0) (All versions < V3.0.37), SIMATIC CP 1543SP-1 (6GK7543-6WX00-0XE0) (All versions < V2.3), SINAMICS S210 (6SL5...) (All versions >= V6.1 < V6.1 HF2), SIPLUS ET 200SP CP 1542SP-1 IRC TX RAIL (6AG2542-6VX00-4XE0) (All versions < V2.3), SIPLUS ET 200SP CP 1543SP-1 ISEC (6AG1543-6WX00-7XE0) (All versions < V2.3), SIPLUS ET 200SP CP 1543SP-1 ISEC TX RAIL (6AG2543-6WX00-4XE0) (All versions < V2.3), SIPLUS NET CP 1543-1 (6AG1543-1AX00-2XE0) (All versions < V3.0.37). The webserver implementation of the affected products does not correctly release allocated memory after it has been used. An attacker with network access could use this vulnerability to cause a denial-of-service condition in the webserver of the affected product.

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

The underlying weakness: Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime

The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, making the memory unavailable for reallocation and reuse.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Choose a language or tool that provides automatic memory management, or makes manual memory management less error-prone. For example, glibc in Linux provides protection against free of invalid pointers. When using Xcode to target OS X or iOS, enable automatic reference counting (ARC). To help correctly and consistently manage memory when programming in C++, consider using a smart pointer class such as std
  • Use an abstraction library to abstract away risky APIs. Not a complete solution.
  • Consider using the Boehm-Demers-Weiser garbage collector (bdwgc), which can help avoid leaks.

More Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime vulnerabilities (CWE-401)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Recent Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime vulnerabilities

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