PT-2014-16: Privilege Gaining in Siemens SIMATIC WinCC

Vulnerable platform

SIMATIC WinCC
Version: 7.2 and earlier

SIMATIC PCS7
Version: 8.0 and earlier

Link:
http://www.siemens.com/

Severity level

Severity level: Medium
Impact: Privilege Gaining
Access Vector: Remote

CVSS v2:
Base Score: 6.8
Vector: (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P)

CVE: CVE-2014-4686

Platform description

Siemens WinCC is a part of Siemens SIMATIC HMI software that aimed to provide connection between an operator and PLCs that manage technological processes.

Vulnerability description

The specialists of the Positive Research center have detected a Privilege Gaining vulnerability in SIMATIC WinCC.

A hard coded encryption key could allow privilege escalation in the WinCC Project administration application if its network communication on port 1030/tcp of a legitimate user can be captured.

How to fix

Update your software up to the latest version

Advisory status

16.04.2014 - Vendor gets vulnerability details
23.07.2014 - Vendor releases fixed version and details
29.07.2014 - Public disclosure

Credits

The vulnerability was detected by Alexander Tlyapov and Sergey Gordeychik, Positive Research Center (Positive Technologies Company)

References

http://en.securitylab.ru/lab/PT-2014-16
http://www.siemens.com/innovation/pool/de/forschungsfelder/siemens_security_advisory_ssa-214365.pdf

Reports on the vulnerabilities previously discovered by Positive Research:

http://www.ptsecurity.com/research/advisory/
http://en.securitylab.ru/lab/

Threatscape