CVE-2021-34597 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This article provides insights into the CVE-2021-34597 vulnerability in Phoenix Contact's PC Worx/-Express software, including its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2021-34597

This section delves into the details of the vulnerability affecting PC Worx and PC Worx-Express software.

What is CVE-2021-34597?

The vulnerability relates to an Improper Input Validation issue in the PC Worx Automation Suite by Phoenix Contact, allowing attackers to unpack arbitrary files outside the project directory.

The Impact of CVE-2021-34597

With a CVSS base score of 7.8 (High Severity), this vulnerability requires no privileges to exploit, posing a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-34597

This section outlines the vulnerability's technical aspects.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability could enable an attacker to manipulate project files and extract files from unintended directories.

Affected Systems and Versions

PC Worx and PC Worx-Express versions up to 1.88 are impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability locally with low complexity, requiring user interaction for successful exploitation.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section highlights the necessary steps to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-34597.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is recommended to exchange project files securely and avoid unencrypted email exchanges. Using secure file exchange services is advised.

Long-Term Security Practices

Ensure project file integrity by storing or exchanging files alongside checksums to prevent unauthorized extraction.

Patching and Updates

Future versions of the Automation Worx Software Suite from Phoenix Contact will implement additional plausibility checks for archive content to address this vulnerability.