CVE-2017-14462 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A potential security vulnerability has been identified in the data, program, and function file permissions feature of the Allen Bradley Micrologix 1400 Series B FRN 21.2 and earlier. An unauthorized user could exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted packet, which may lead to the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, alteration of settings, or modification of ladder logic. This vulnerability can be triggered by unauthenticated packets sent by an attacker. It is important to note that the required Keyswitch State must be set to REMOTE or PROG (or RUN in some cases) for this vulnerability to be activated. This enables the attacker to activate SNMP, Modbus, DNP, and other features within the channel configuration. Additionally, it allows the attacker to modify network parameters such as IP address, name server, and domain name.

Understanding CVE-2017-14462

This section provides insights into the impact and technical details of CVE-2017-14462.

What is CVE-2017-14462?

CVE-2017-14462 is an access control vulnerability in the data, program, and function file permissions functionality of Allen Bradley Micrologix 1400 Series B FRN 21.2 and earlier. It allows attackers to disclose sensitive information, modify settings, or alter ladder logic by sending specially crafted packets.

The Impact of CVE-2017-14462

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 10 (Critical severity) with high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely without requiring any privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data and unauthorized configuration changes.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-14462

This section delves into the vulnerability description, affected systems, versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Allen Bradley Micrologix 1400 Series B FRN 21.2 and earlier allows unauthorized access to sensitive information and configuration settings through specially crafted packets.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Allen Bradley
Vendor: Talos
Versions: Allen Bradley Micrologix 1400 Series B FRN 21.2, Allen Bradley Micrologix 1400 Series B FRN 21.0, Allen Bradley Micrologix 1400 Series B FRN 15

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Changed
Vector String: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines the steps to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2017-14462.

Immediate Steps to Take

Ensure Keyswitch State is not set to REMOTE or PROG (or RUN) unless necessary
Implement network segmentation to restrict unauthorized access
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update firmware and software to patch known vulnerabilities
Conduct security training for employees to raise awareness about social engineering attacks

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the vendor promptly to address the vulnerability and enhance system security