CVE-2018-11458 : Security Advisory and Response

A security issue has been discovered in SINUMERIK 828D V4.7, SINUMERIK 840D sl V4.7, and SINUMERIK 840D sl V4.8. The vulnerability involves the integrated VNC server on port 5900/tcp of the affected products. An external attacker can potentially exploit this vulnerability by sending specifically crafted network requests to the mentioned port. It is important to note that this vulnerability can only be exploited if the firewall configuration of network port X130 manually opens port 5900/tcp. The successful exploitation of this vulnerability does not require any special privileges or user interaction. If exploited, this vulnerability could compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the VNC server. As of the publication of this advisory, there have been no known instances of this security vulnerability being exploited publicly.

Understanding CVE-2018-11458

This section provides insights into the nature and impact of the CVE-2018-11458 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2018-11458?

CVE-2018-11458 is a security vulnerability found in SINUMERIK 828D V4.7, SINUMERIK 840D sl V4.7, and SINUMERIK 840D sl V4.8, affecting the integrated VNC server on port 5900/tcp.

The Impact of CVE-2018-11458

The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to a compromise in the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the VNC server on the affected products.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-11458

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE-2018-11458 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute code with privileged permissions on the system by sending specially crafted network requests to port 5900/tcp.

Affected Systems and Versions

SINUMERIK 828D V4.7: All versions < V4.7 SP6 HF1
SINUMERIK 840D sl V4.7: All versions < V4.7 SP6 HF5
SINUMERIK 840D sl V4.8: All versions < V4.8 SP3

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending crafted network requests to port 5900/tcp.
Firewall configuration of network port X130 must manually open port 5900/tcp for exploitation.
No special privileges or user interaction are required for successful exploitation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to protect your systems from CVE-2018-11458.

Immediate Steps to Take

Ensure that port 5900/tcp is not manually opened in the firewall configuration.
Implement network security measures to restrict access to vulnerable ports.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch affected systems to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and address potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Apply the necessary patches provided by Siemens AG to address the CVE-2018-11458 vulnerability.