CVE-2021-31891 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been identified in multiple Siemens products including Desigo CC, GMA-Manager, Operation Scheduler, Siveillance Control, and Siveillance Control Pro. The vulnerability could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system with root privileges.

Understanding CVE-2021-31891

This CVE identifies a command injection vulnerability in Siemens products.

What is CVE-2021-31891?

The affected applications incorrectly neutralize special elements in a specific HTTP GET request, leading to command injection.

The Impact of CVE-2021-31891

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability remotely without authentication, potentially executing malicious code with root privileges.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-31891

This section covers specific technical details of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to the failure to properly sanitize special elements in the HTTP GET request, allowing an attacker to inject and execute commands.

Affected Systems and Versions

Desigo CC: All versions with OIS Extension Module
GMA-Manager: All versions with OIS running on Debian 9 or earlier
Operation Scheduler: All versions with OIS running on Debian 9 or earlier
Siveillance Control: All versions with OIS running on Debian 9 or earlier
Siveillance Control Pro: All versions

Exploitation Mechanism

An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit the vulnerability through a specific HTTP GET request to execute arbitrary code with root privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here's how organizations can address the CVE concern.

Immediate Steps to Take

Siemens recommends implementing the provided security updates immediately to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch the affected Siemens products to protect against known vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all Siemens products are kept up to date with the latest security patches to prevent exploitation.