CVE-2023-1285 : What You Need to Know

This CVE record, assigned by Mitsubishi, was published on April 14, 2023. It details a Signal Handler Race Condition vulnerability affecting Mitsubishi Electric India's GC-ENET-COM product, potentially leading to a denial-of-service (DoS) issue in Ethernet communication.

Understanding CVE-2023-1285

This section delves into the specifics of CVE-2023-1285, outlining the vulnerability and its impact.

What is CVE-2023-1285?

CVE-2023-1285 is a Signal Handler Race Condition vulnerability found in the GC-ENET-COM product of Mitsubishi Electric India. It allows a remote attacker to disrupt Ethernet communication by sending specially crafted packets to a UDP port when the device is configured as a Modbus TCP Server. The disruption can only be resolved by power cycling the main unit or hot-swapping the GC-ENET-COM.

The Impact of CVE-2023-1285

This vulnerability poses a high availability impact, as it can result in a denial-of-service condition, affecting the normal operation of the Ethernet communication.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-1285

In this section, we explore the technical aspects of CVE-2023-1285, including the vulnerability description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The Signal Handler Race Condition vulnerability in GC-ENET-COM allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to disrupt Ethernet communication by sending malicious packets to a UDP port, affecting its function as a Modbus TCP Server.

Affected Systems and Versions

The specific affected version of GC-ENET-COM identified with the first two digits of the 11-digit serial number as "16" is susceptible to this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit this vulnerability by sending a large volume of crafted packets to any UDP port, triggering a DoS condition in Ethernet communication. The communication only resumes after specific actions are taken.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-1285, proactive steps need to be taken to mitigate the vulnerability and prevent potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should consider implementing network-level protections, restricting access to vulnerable ports, and monitoring network traffic for any anomalies to prevent unauthorized exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Adopting a proactive security posture, staying updated on security advisories, and conducting regular security assessments can help in safeguarding against potential vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-1285.

Patching and Updates

Staying informed about security patches and updates released by Mitsubishi Electric India for the GC-ENET-COM product is crucial. Applying patches promptly can help in mitigating the vulnerability and enhancing the overall security posture of the affected systems.