CVE-2020-14521 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Multiple Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation engineering software products have a malicious code execution vulnerability that could be exploited by attackers to obtain or modify information and cause denial-of-service.

Understanding CVE-2020-14521

This CVE involves a vulnerability in various Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation engineering software products that could allow malicious actors to execute arbitrary code.

What is CVE-2020-14521?

This CVE refers to a security flaw in Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation engineering software products that enables unauthorized execution of code, potentially leading to information theft, alteration, or service disruption.

The Impact of CVE-2020-14521

The vulnerability poses a high risk as attackers can exploit it to execute malicious code, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-14521

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows for malicious code execution in multiple Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation engineering software products.

Affected Systems and Versions

C Controller Interface Module Utility (<= Version 2.00)
CC-Link IE Control Network Data Collector (Version 1.00A)
CC-Link IE Field Network Data Collector (Version 1.00A)
And many more listed in the data.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: High
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Scope: Changed
CVSS Score: 8.3 (High)

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-14521 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Mitsubishi Electric.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.
Implement strong access controls and authentication mechanisms.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and firmware.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing.
Educate users and IT staff on cybersecurity best practices.

Patching and Updates

Mitsubishi Electric has released patches for the affected products. Ensure timely installation of these patches to mitigate the vulnerability.