CVE-2018-7842 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A vulnerability known as CWE-290: Authentication Bypass by Spoofing affects Modicon M580, Modicon M340, Modicon Quantum, and Modicon Premium, potentially allowing attackers to gain elevated privileges through a brute force attack on Modbus parameters.

Understanding CVE-2018-7842

This CVE identifies a security flaw in Schneider Electric's Modicon series, enabling unauthorized privilege escalation.

What is CVE-2018-7842?

The vulnerability in Modicon M580, M340, Quantum, and Premium allows attackers to exploit Modbus parameters via brute force attacks, leading to unauthorized privilege escalation.

The Impact of CVE-2018-7842

The vulnerability could result in unauthorized access and control over affected systems, posing a significant security risk to industrial control environments.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-7842

Schneider Electric's Modicon series is susceptible to an authentication bypass vulnerability, potentially leading to privilege escalation.

Vulnerability Description

The CWE-290 vulnerability in Modicon devices enables attackers to gain elevated privileges by exploiting Modbus parameters through brute force attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products: Modicon M580, Modicon M340, Modicon Quantum, Modicon Premium
Versions: All versions of the affected products

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by conducting brute force attacks on Modbus parameters, allowing them to gain unauthorized access and control.

Mitigation and Prevention

Effective mitigation strategies are crucial to safeguard systems against CVE-2018-7842.

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement strong password policies and multi-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities related to Modbus communication.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Modicon devices to address security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Schneider Electric promptly to mitigate the CVE-2018-7842 vulnerability.