CVE-2020-7586 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been identified in Siemens products including SIMATIC PCS 7, SIMATIC PDM, SIMATIC STEP 7, and SINAMICS STARTER, potentially leading to a Denial-of-Service situation and unauthorized access to confidential information.

Understanding CVE-2020-7586

What is CVE-2020-7586?

CVE-2020-7586 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability affecting various Siemens products, allowing a local attacker to exploit the system without user interaction.

The Impact of CVE-2020-7586

The vulnerability could compromise system availability and provide unauthorized access to sensitive data when exploited by an attacker with local system access.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-7586

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability exists in SIMATIC PCS 7, SIMATIC PDM, SIMATIC STEP 7, and SINAMICS STARTER due to a buffer overflow issue, potentially leading to a Denial-of-Service scenario.

Affected Systems and Versions

SIMATIC PCS 7 V8.2 and earlier (All versions)
SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.0 (All versions < V9.0 SP3)
SIMATIC PDM (All versions < V9.2)
SIMATIC STEP 7 V5.X (All versions < V5.6 SP2 HF3)
SINAMICS STARTER (containing STEP 7 OEM version) (All versions < V5.4 HF2)

Exploitation Mechanism

Requires user privileges but no user interaction
Local attacker with access to the affected systems can exploit the vulnerability

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-provided patches and updates
Restrict network access to affected systems
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software and firmware
Implement least privilege access controls
Conduct regular security assessments and audits

Patching and Updates

Siemens has released patches to address the vulnerability
Ensure all affected systems are updated with the latest security fixes