CVE-2020-8471 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in ABB's Central Licensing System allows an authenticated attacker to exploit weak file permissions, leading to privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution.

Understanding CVE-2020-8471

This CVE pertains to a security issue in various ABB products due to weak file permissions.

What is CVE-2020-8471?

The vulnerability in the Central Licensing System component of ABB products enables an authenticated attacker to manipulate file permissions, potentially resulting in severe consequences.

The Impact of CVE-2020-8471

The vulnerability has a high severity level with significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. An attacker can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code and elevate privileges.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-8471

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The weak file permissions in the Central Licensing System component of ABB products allow an authenticated attacker to interfere with license handling, escalate privileges, and execute arbitrary code.

Affected Systems and Versions

The following ABB products and versions are affected by this vulnerability:

Central Licensing System 5.1
ABB Ability System 800xA 5.1, 6.0, 6.1
Compact HMI 5.1, 6.0
Control Builder Safe 1.0, 1.1, 2.0
Symphony Plus S+ Operations 3.0 to 3.2
Symphony Plus S+ Engineering 1.1 to 2.2
Composer Harmony 5.1, 6.0, 6.1
Composer Melody 5.3, 6.1, 6.2
Harmony OPC Server Standalone 6.0, 6.1, 7.0
Advant OCS Control Builder A 1.3, 1.4
Advant OCS AC 100 OPS Server 5.1, 6.0, 6.1
Composer CTK 6.1, 6.2
AdvaBuild 3.7 SP1, SP2
OPC Server for Mod 300 (non-800xA) 1.4
OPC Data Link 2.1, 2.2
Knowledge Manager 8.0, 9.0, 9.1
Manufacturing Operations Management 1812, 1909

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an authenticated attacker to manipulate file permissions, leading to blocking license handling, privilege escalation, and arbitrary code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-8471 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches promptly to address the vulnerability.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities related to file permissions.
Restrict access to critical systems to authorized personnel only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all software and systems to prevent vulnerabilities.
Conduct security training for employees to raise awareness of potential threats.
Implement least privilege access policies to limit the impact of compromised accounts.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all affected ABB products are updated with the latest patches to mitigate the vulnerability effectively.