CVE-2020-7523 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability in Schneider Electric Modbus Serial Driver could lead to local privilege escalation due to improper privilege management.

Understanding CVE-2020-7523

This CVE involves a security issue in Schneider Electric Modbus Serial Driver that could allow unauthorized actors to gain elevated privileges.

What is CVE-2020-7523?

The vulnerability arises from the driver's failure to correctly assign, modify, track, or verify privileges for an actor, potentially granting them unintended control.

The Impact of CVE-2020-7523

The vulnerability could be exploited by local attackers to escalate their privileges, compromising the security and integrity of the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-7523

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from improper privilege management within the Schneider Electric Modbus Serial Driver, enabling unauthorized privilege escalation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Schneider Electric Modbus Serial Driver (64 bits) versions prior to V3.20 IE 30
Schneider Electric Modbus Serial Driver (32 bits) versions prior to V2.20 IE 30
Schneider Electric Modbus Driver Suite versions prior to V14.15.0.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows local actors to exploit the Modbus Serial Driver service to elevate their privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized control.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-7523 is crucial to maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Schneider Electric promptly
Monitor and restrict access to the affected systems
Implement the principle of least privilege to limit user permissions

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and drivers
Conduct security training for personnel to raise awareness of privilege management
Employ network segmentation to contain potential breaches

Patching and Updates

Schneider Electric has released patches to address the vulnerability
Ensure all affected systems are updated with the latest versions to mitigate the risk of exploitation