CVE-2023-3596 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-3596 pertains to a vulnerability in Rockwell Automation's Allen-Bradley ControlLogix Communication Modules that could potentially lead to a denial of service attack.

Understanding CVE-2023-3596

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2023-3596 vulnerability and its implications.

What is CVE-2023-3596?

The vulnerability exists in Rockwell Automation's 1756-EN4* Ethernet/IP communication products, enabling a malicious user to trigger a denial of service by sending harmful CIP messages to the target system.

The Impact of CVE-2023-3596

The impact of this vulnerability is categorized under CAPEC-100 Overflow Buffers, showcasing a high availability impact with a base severity score of 7.5.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-3596

In this section, we explore the technical aspects of CVE-2023-3596, including the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows malicious actors to execute a denial of service attack through specially crafted CIP messages on the Rockwell Automation communication modules.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected products include Rockwell Automation's 1756-EN4TR Series A, 1756-EN4TRK Series A, and 1756-EN4TRXT Series A, with versions up to 5.001 being vulnerable.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the vulnerability in the Ethernet/IP communication products, threat actors can disrupt the target system's operations by sending malicious CIP messages.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines the necessary steps to mitigate the CVE-2023-3596 vulnerability and prevent potential exploits.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update firmware to version 5.002 for EN4* ControlLogix communication modules.
Properly segment networks to restrict cyber actors from exploiting vulnerabilities.
Implement detection signatures such as Snort to monitor and detect anomalous CIP packets to Rockwell Automation devices.

Long-Term Security Practices

Organizations should ensure ICS/SCADA networks are adequately segmented within the process structure and isolated from non-essential networks to enhance overall security posture.

Patching and Updates

Regularly apply firmware updates and security patches provided by Rockwell Automation to address known vulnerabilities and protect against potential cyber threats.