CVE-2022-23921 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article provides an in-depth analysis of CVE-2022-23921, a vulnerability affecting General Electric's Proficy CIMPLICITY software.

Understanding CVE-2022-23921

CVE-2022-23921 is a high-severity vulnerability that can result in local privilege escalation and code execution when exploited. The vulnerability was reported by Yuval Ardon and Roman Dvorkin of OTORIO to CISA.

What is CVE-2022-23921?

Exploitation of CVE-2022-23921 can lead to local privilege escalation and code execution. It is only possible if the attacker has login access to a machine actively running CIMPLICITY, under specific conditions specified by GE.

The Impact of CVE-2022-23921

The impact of this vulnerability is considered high, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. The base CVSS score is 7.5, indicating a severe risk level.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-23921

CVE-2022-23921 is categorized under CWE-269, focusing on improper privilege management. It affects General Electric's Proficy CIMPLICITY software versions less than or equal to 11.1. The vulnerability is exploitable from an adjacent network with high attack complexity.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows for local privilege escalation and code execution under specific conditions, posing a significant risk to affected systems.

Affected Systems and Versions

All instances of General Electric's Proficy CIMPLICITY software version 11.1 and below are vulnerable to CVE-2022-23921.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploitation of this vulnerability requires the attacker to have login access to a machine actively running CIMPLICITY under specific conditions outlined by GE.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2022-23921, users are strongly advised to take immediate steps and implement long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are recommended to upgrade all instances of the affected software to the latest version of GE Digital’s Proficy CIMPLICITY released in January 2022. Additionally, it is crucial to follow the Secure Deployment Guide instructions to restrict unauthorized project executions.

Long-Term Security Practices

For enhanced security, users should ensure access to CIMPLICITY machines and directories are properly controlled through access control limits.

Patching and Updates

Users who opt not to upgrade are advised to follow the instructions in the Secure Deployment Guide to maintain secure access control.