US Homeland Security Warns Of Dangerous SCADA Flaw

The US DHS Industrial Control Systems CERT (ICS-CERT) has warned organizations using Advantech’s ICS products to install an update that kills a remotely exploitable flaw in its WebAccess software. 

WebAccess is the Taiwanese company’s browser-based SCADA software for monitoring remote field devices. It’s known among security researchers as a type of SCADA Human Machine Interface (HMI) system and has been the focus of security research in part because of its use of Microsoft’s implementation of distributed computing  protocol, Remote Procedure Call (RPC). 

A researcher at Trend Micro discovered multiple vulnerabilities in WebAccess, the worst of which is a stack-based bugger overflow, tracked as CVE-2018-14816, that has a CVSS version 3 score of 9.8 out of a possible 10. Another path traversal flaw that may allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code was given the same score, while others rated 7.5 and 7.8 scores.   

As ICS-CERT notes, WebAccess is used in critical manufacturing, energy, water, and wastewater systems in East Asia, the US, and Europe. 

“Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code, access files and perform actions at a privileged level, or delete files on the system,” ICS-CERT warns in its risk assessment. 

Advantech has released version 8.3.3 of WebAccess to fix the remotely exploitable bugs, which ICS-CERT emphasized requires a “low skill level to exploit”. WebAccess Versions 8.3.1 and prior are affected, according to ICS-CERT.  

Advantech’s WebAccess 8.3.3 release is available here where it details security updates for WebAccess on Windows 10, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2012 R2 machines.  

Fortunately, ICS-CERT is not aware of any public exploits targeting these vulnerabilities.

However, the latest fix follows the March release of a public exploit from a Tenable Security researcher Chris Lyne for an unauthenticated remote code execution flaw that worked against WebAccess versions 8.3, despite Advantech’s January release of WebAccess version 8.3 supposedly having addressed CVE-2017–16720, the flaw the exploit utilized. 

Lyne in July discovered his exploit also worked against the subsequently released WebAccess versions 8.3.1 and 8.3.2. 

“According to the WebAccess Support & Download page, 8.3.2 was released on August 17, 2018. It appears there was never a patch for this vulnerability,” Lyne wrote in September. 

He also found dozens of internet-exposed WebAccess instances through the IoT search engine, Shodan.io, which were likely a fraction of all WebAccess installations worldwide. 

WebAccess has become testing ground for researchers looking for bugs in Remote Procedure Call (RPC) protocols, which were developed in the pre-internet era and later implemented in Windows. 

Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) revealed in January this year that around 2016 it had paid for a “trove of vulnerability reports” written previously by an anonymous researcher who’d been investigating vulnerabilities in WebAccess RPC interfaces.   

ZDI researcher Fritz Sands explained that WebAccess installation and setup opens ports 4592 and 14592 for TCP traffic, which use RPC protocols to communicate with clients.  

Microsoft’s RPC implementation allows Windows machines to talk with other RPC-enabled systems, such as those that use Open Group’s Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) for RPC.   

“These ports are serviced by processes (webvrpcs.exe and datacore.exe) that run in the context of a local administrator. These ports use Remote Procedure Call (RPC) protocols to communicate with clients, and both of the RPC interfaces can be called from remote unauthenticated clients,” he noted. 

Sands, who was credited with reporting WebAccess bugs that were fixed in May, noted that code in Advantech’s WebAccess version 8.0 software package “contains many exploitable vulnerabilities” and encouraged hackers to use it test newer versions of WebAccess and then explore other products that use RPC services. 

CSO:

You Might Also Read:

US Accuses Russia Of Attacking Energy Infrastructure

« Britain Needs A Cyber Army To Defend Against Prolific Attacks
Lloyds Bank Is Replacing Customer Debit Cards After Cyber Attacks »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

IT Governance

IT Governance

IT Governance is a leading global provider of information security solutions. Download our free guide and find out how ISO 27001 can help protect your organisation's information.

Resecurity

Resecurity

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence.

Practice Labs

Practice Labs

Practice Labs is an IT competency hub, where live-lab environments give access to real equipment for hands-on practice of essential cybersecurity skills.

ManageEngine

ManageEngine

As the IT management division of Zoho Corporation, ManageEngine prioritizes flexible solutions that work for all businesses, regardless of size or budget.

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO Technology

XYPRO is the market leader in HPE Non-Stop Security, Risk Management and Compliance.

Security Research Labs (SRLabs)

Security Research Labs (SRLabs)

Security Research Labs is a Berlin-based hacking research collective and consulting think tank.

Data61

Data61

Data61 is Australia’s leading digital research network offering the research capabilities, IP and collaboration programs to unleash the country’s digital & data-driven potential.

Global Cyber Alliance (GCA)

Global Cyber Alliance (GCA)

Global Cyber Alliance is an international, cross-sector effort dedicated to eradicating cyber risk and improving our connected world.

Cybertron

Cybertron

Cybertron services include real-time monitoring and incident response and a cyber range for competency development.

Cequence Security

Cequence Security

Cequence, a pioneer in API security and bot management, is the only solution that delivers Unified API Protection (UAP), uniting discovery, compliance, and protection.

WiJungle

WiJungle

WiJungle is an Indian Cyber Security Company that develops and markets a unified network security gateway solution.

GK8

GK8

GK8 is a cyber security company that offers a high security custodian technology for managing and safeguarding digital assets. Secure, Compliant and Practical.

PQShield

PQShield

PQShield are specialists in Post-Quantum Cryptography. We provide quantum-secure cryptographic solutions for software, software/hardware co-design and data in transit.

Stairwell

Stairwell

Stairwell is building a new approach to cybersecurity around a vision that all security teams should be able to determine what’s good, what’s bad, and why.

Sevco Security

Sevco Security

Sevco Delivers Real-time Asset Intelligence to Identify and Close Unknown Security Gaps.

Hubify

Hubify

Hubify is an experienced, service-driven technology company specialising in business connectivity across mobile, data, voice, cloud, & cyber security solutions.

Factmata

Factmata

Factmata is an social and news media monitoring and analytics product that uses AI to identify and track narratives online, highlighting those most likely to cause brand harm or misinform the public.

Radius Technologies

Radius Technologies

Radius Technologies is trusted by progressive SMEs to deliver world-class cloud, IT solutions, IT and data security, and telecoms systems.

Mindcore Technologies

Mindcore Technologies

Mindcore provide cyber security services, managed IT services and IT consulting services to businesses in NJ, FL, and throughout the United States.

Novem CS

Novem CS

Novem CS are bespoke cyber security specialists providing a highly effective and specialised approach to solving your cyber security challenges.

Kaine Mathrick Tech (KMT)

Kaine Mathrick Tech (KMT)

KMT deliver comprehensive cyber-first outsourced technology support and solutions that scale with your business.