CVE-2019-5181 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in the iocheckd service 'I/O-Check' feature of WAGO PFC 200 Firmware version 03.02.02(14) allows for a stack buffer overflow, potentially leading to the execution of malicious code.

Understanding CVE-2019-5181

This CVE involves a specific version of WAGO PFC 200 Firmware that is susceptible to a stack buffer overflow vulnerability.

What is CVE-2019-5181?

The vulnerability in the iocheckd service of WAGO PFC 200 Firmware version 03.02.02(14) can be exploited through a carefully crafted XML cache file, triggering a stack buffer overflow.

The Impact of CVE-2019-5181

Exploiting this vulnerability can allow an attacker to execute malicious code by overflowing the stack buffer, potentially leading to a service crash.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-5181

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises in the iocheckd service 'I/O-Check' feature of WAGO PFC 200 Firmware version 03.02.02(14) due to a stack buffer overflow.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: WAGO PFC200
Vendor: Wago
Firmware version: 03.02.02(14)

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit the vulnerability by sending a specially crafted packet to trigger the parsing of a malicious XML cache file.
The overflow occurs in the destination buffer sp+0x440 when the sprintf() function is called with subnetmask values longer than a specific length.
A subnetmask value of length 0x3d9 can cause the service to crash.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-5181 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-provided patches or updates to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that could indicate an exploitation attempt.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update firmware and software to ensure the latest security patches are in place.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from the vendor and apply patches promptly to address known vulnerabilities.