CVE-2023-22611 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE record pertains to a vulnerability in Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Geo SCADA Expert 2019 - 2021 (formerly known as ClearSCADA) that could lead to the exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors when specific messages are sent to the server over the database server TCP port.

Understanding CVE-2023-22611

This section delves into the details of CVE-2023-22611, highlighting the impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies related to this vulnerability.

What is CVE-2023-22611?

CVE-2023-22611 is classified as a CWE-200: Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerability. It specifically poses a risk of information disclosure when particular messages are transmitted to the server via the database server TCP port within affected versions of EcoStruxure Geo SCADA Expert.

The Impact of CVE-2023-22611

The vulnerability carries a CVSSv3.1 base score of 7.5, indicating a high severity level. Its exploitation can result in unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data to threat actors, potentially leading to confidentiality breaches.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-22611

This section provides a detailed overview of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows for the exposure of sensitive information when specific messages are sent to the server over the database server TCP port in the EcoStruxure Geo SCADA Expert software versions 2019 - 2021.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected product is Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Geo SCADA Expert 2019 - 2021 (previously known as ClearSCADA) with versions prior to October 2022.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending crafted messages to the server over the database server TCP port, leading to the unauthorized exposure of sensitive information.

Mitigation and Prevention

In response to CVE-2023-22611, it is crucial to implement immediate steps to mitigate the risk and adopt long-term security practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations using the affected versions of EcoStruxure Geo SCADA Expert should apply security patches provided by Schneider Electric promptly.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activities related to unauthorized data access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.
Educate employees on cybersecurity best practices to prevent inadvertent data exposure.

Patching and Updates

Schneider Electric has released security patches to address the vulnerability in EcoStruxure Geo SCADA Expert versions 2019 - 2021. It is recommended that users apply these patches as soon as possible to mitigate the risk of information disclosure.