CVE-2019-10929 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A security issue has been identified in multiple Siemens products, including SIMATIC CP 1626, SIMATIC ET 200SP Open Controller CPU 1515SP PC, SIMATIC HMI Panel, SIMATIC NET PC Software, SIMATIC S7-1200 CPU family, SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU family, SIMATIC S7-1500 Software Controller, SIMATIC S7-PLCSIM Advanced, SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal), SIMATIC WinCC (TIA Portal), SIMATIC WinCC OA, SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Advanced, SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional, and TIM 1531 IRC. These devices are susceptible to a message protection bypass flaw that could be exploited by an attacker with a Man-in-the-Middle position.

Understanding CVE-2019-10929

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in various Siemens products that could allow for network traffic manipulation.

What is CVE-2019-10929?

The vulnerability in CVE-2019-10929 is a message protection bypass flaw due to specific calculation properties used for integrity protection.

The Impact of CVE-2019-10929

The vulnerability could enable an attacker positioned as a Man-in-the-Middle to tamper with network traffic on port 102/tcp directed at the affected devices.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-10929

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The affected devices are prone to a message protection bypass vulnerability caused by certain calculation properties used for integrity protection.

Affected Systems and Versions

SIMATIC CP 1626 (All versions)
SIMATIC ET 200SP Open Controller CPU 1515SP PC (incl. SIPLUS variants) (All versions)
SIMATIC ET 200SP Open Controller CPU 1515SP PC2 (incl. SIPLUS variants) (All versions < V20.8)
SIMATIC HMI Panel (incl. SIPLUS variants) (All versions)
SIMATIC NET PC Software V14 (All versions < V14 SP1 Update 14)
SIMATIC NET PC Software V15 (All versions)
SIMATIC S7-1200 CPU family (incl. SIPLUS variants) (All versions < V4.4.0)
SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU family (incl. related ET200 CPUs and SIPLUS variants) (All versions < V2.8.1)
SIMATIC S7-1500 Software Controller (All versions < V20.8)
SIMATIC S7-PLCSIM Advanced (All versions < V3.0)
SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) (All versions < V16)
SIMATIC WinCC (TIA Portal) (All versions < V16)
SIMATIC WinCC OA (All versions < V3.16 P013)
SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Advanced (All versions < V16)
SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional (All versions < V16)
TIM 1531 IRC (incl. SIPLUS NET variants) (All versions < V2.1)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker with a Man-in-the-Middle position to manipulate network traffic on port 102/tcp.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting against and addressing the CVE-2019-10929 vulnerability is crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches or updates promptly.
Implement network segmentation to restrict access to critical devices.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities.
Educate staff on cybersecurity best practices.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all affected systems are updated with the latest patches provided by Siemens.