CVE-2023-24474 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE-2023-24474 affects Honeywell's Experion Server, Experion Station, Engineering Station, and Direct Station products.

Understanding CVE-2023-24474

This vulnerability can lead to a Denial of Service (DoS) on the Experion server due to a heap overflow, triggered by the mishandling of specially crafted messages.

What is CVE-2023-24474?

The vulnerability CVE-2023-24474, named "Server deserialization missing boundary checks - heap overflow in communication between server and controller," stems from a heap-based buffer overflow issue (CWE-122) in the communication between the server and controller.

The Impact of CVE-2023-24474

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as high severity (CVSS base score of 7.5) with a high potential for confidentiality impact, especially when an attacker successfully triggers the heap overflow.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-24474

This section delves deeper into the technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from a lack of proper boundary checks during deserialization, leading to a heap overflow condition that can be exploited by sending a specifically crafted message to the Experion server.

Affected Systems and Versions

The following platforms and versions are affected by CVE-2023-24474:

Experion Server versions less than or equal to 501.6HF8, 510.2HF12, 511.5TCU3, 520.1TCU4, and 520.2TCU2
Experion Station versions less than or equal to 501.6HF8, 510.2HF12, 511.5TCU3, 520.1TCU4, and 520.2TCU2
Engineering Station versions less than or equal to 511.5TCU3, 520.1TCU4, and 520.2TCU2
Direct Station versions less than or equal to 511.5TCU3, 520.1TCU4, and 520.2TCU2

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending a specially crafted message to the Experion server, triggering a heap overflow condition that could potentially lead to a DoS scenario.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard against CVE-2023-24474, it is crucial to take immediate mitigation steps and implement long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-released patches or updates to the affected products promptly.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that could indicate an exploitation attempt.
Restrict network access to vulnerable systems and components.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and audits to identify and address any vulnerabilities across the network.
Implement strong access controls and segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Educate personnel on cybersecurity best practices and the importance of timely software updates.

Patching and Updates

It is essential to stay up to date with security advisories from Honeywell and promptly apply any patches or updates released to address CVE-2023-24474 and enhance overall system security.