CVE-2020-25226 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been identified in SCALANCE X-200 switch family and SCALANCE X-200IRT switch family by Siemens, potentially leading to a buffer overflow condition when exploited.

Understanding CVE-2020-25226

This CVE involves a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the web server of the affected devices.

What is CVE-2020-25226?

The vulnerability in SCALANCE X-200 and X-200IRT switch families allows an attacker to trigger a buffer overflow by sending a specially crafted request to the web server, potentially causing it to stop functioning.

The Impact of CVE-2020-25226

If exploited, this vulnerability could lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition on the web server, rendering it inoperable.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-25226

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is classified as CWE-122: Heap-based Buffer Overflow, indicating a specific type of buffer overflow issue.

Affected Systems and Versions

SCALANCE X-200 switch family (incl. SIPLUS NET variants) with all versions below V5.2.5
SCALANCE X-200IRT switch family (incl. SIPLUS NET variants) with all versions below V5.5.0

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker sends a specially crafted request to the web server of the affected devices
This triggers a buffer overflow condition that could lead to the web server becoming unresponsive

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2020-25226, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches or updates provided by Siemens to fix the vulnerability
Implement network segmentation to limit access to vulnerable devices

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update firmware on affected devices
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities

Patching and Updates

Siemens may release patches or updates to address the vulnerability
Stay informed about security advisories and apply patches promptly