CVE-2018-7559 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A flaw in OPC UA .NET Standard Stack and Sample Code prior to GitHub commit 2018-04-12 allows remote attackers to extract a Server's private key through specially crafted UserIdentityTokens.

Understanding CVE-2018-7559

This CVE involves a vulnerability in OPC UA applications that can be exploited by attackers to compromise a Server's private key.

What is CVE-2018-7559?

This CVE refers to a security flaw in OPC UA .NET Standard Stack and Sample Code, as well as OPC UA .NET Legacy Stack and Sample Code, enabling attackers to extract a Server's private key through a specific attack method.

The Impact of CVE-2018-7559

The vulnerability allows remote attackers to exploit OPC UA applications and extract a Server's private key through the use of specially crafted invalid UserIdentityTokens, potentially leading to unauthorized access and data compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-7559

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in OPC UA .NET Standard Stack and Sample Code and OPC UA .NET Legacy Stack and Sample Code allows attackers to determine a Server's private key by sending malicious UserIdentityTokens, facilitating an oracle attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions: All versions prior to GitHub commit 2018-04-12 for .NET Standard Stack and Sample Code, and prior to GitHub commit 2018-03-13 for .NET Legacy Stack and Sample Code.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending carefully crafted invalid UserIdentityTokens to the OPC UA applications, enabling them to extract the Server's private key through an oracle attack.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-7559 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by the vendor to address the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities that could indicate exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and applications to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all affected systems are updated with the latest patches from the vendor to mitigate the vulnerability effectively.