CVE-2019-6846 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Modicon M580, Modicon M340, Modicon BMxCRA, and 140CRA modules are affected by a CWE-319 vulnerability related to the FTP protocol, potentially leading to the exposure of sensitive information.

Understanding CVE-2019-6846

This CVE entry highlights a vulnerability in Schneider Electric's Modicon products that could result in the disclosure of sensitive data during FTP protocol usage.

What is CVE-2019-6846?

The vulnerability in Modicon M580, Modicon M340, Modicon BMxCRA, and 140CRA modules allows for the transmission of sensitive information in cleartext, posing a risk of data exposure.

The Impact of CVE-2019-6846

The vulnerability could lead to the inadvertent disclosure of confidential data due to the lack of encryption in the FTP communication process.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-6846

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability affecting the mentioned Schneider Electric products.

Vulnerability Description

The CWE-319 vulnerability in the Modicon devices enables the transmission of sensitive information without encryption, potentially exposing data to unauthorized access.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products: Modicon M580, Modicon M340, Modicon BMxCRA, and 140CRA modules
All firmware versions of the mentioned products are susceptible to this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises from the lack of encryption in the FTP protocol used by the affected Schneider Electric devices, allowing attackers to intercept and view sensitive data during transmission.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2019-6846 and enhance security, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable FTP services on the affected devices if not essential for operations.
Implement secure communication protocols like SFTP or FTPS to encrypt data transmissions.
Regularly monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities that may indicate unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.
Keep firmware and software up to date to ensure patches for known security issues are applied promptly.

Patching and Updates

Check for firmware updates and security advisories from Schneider Electric to patch the vulnerability and enhance the security posture of the affected devices.