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Wonderware SuiteLink null pointer dereference

Vulnerability Note VU#596268

Original Release Date: 2008-05-06 | Last Revised: 2008-09-17

Overview

A vulnerability in the way Wonderware SuiteLink handles malformed TCP packets could result in a denial of service.

Description

Wonderware SuiteLink is a protocol based on TCP/IP that runs as a service listening for connections on port 5413/tcp on Microsoft Windows operating systems. A vulnerability exists in the way the Wonderware SuiteLink Service slssvc.exe handles malformed TCP packets. According to Core Security Advisory CORE-2008-0129:


    Un-authenticated client programs connecting to the service can send a malformed packet that causes a memory allocation operation (a call to new() operator) to fail returning a NULL pointer. Due to a lack of error-checking for the result of the memory allocation operation, the program later tries to use the pointer as a destination for memory copy operation, triggering an access violation error and terminating the service.
Note that this issue affects Wonderware SuiteLink prior to version 2.0 Patch 01. Exploit code for this vulnerability is publicly available.

Impact

A remote, unauthenticated attacker may be able to cause a denial-of-service condition.

Solution

Apply an update
This issue is addressed in Wonderware SuiteLink Version 2.0 Patch 01. Wonderware SuiteLink customers should refer to Wonderware Tech Alert 106 and Wonderware Security Manual - Securing Industrial Control Systems for more details.

Vendor Information

596268
 
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Invensys Affected

Notified:  May 06, 2008 Updated: May 23, 2008

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

Wonderware Statement on the potential SuiteLink Version 2.0 Denial of Service Vulnerability:

Wonderware, a business unit of Invensys, is a pioneer in the secure use of Microsoft Windows software for industrial applications and a leader in the field of Industrial Automation security. Wonderware is also committed to active collaboration and involvement with customers and industry standards authorities to provide secure applications, security best practices, deployment guidelines, tools and prescriptive guidance for maintaining a secure automation environment.

Recently, a vulnerability was discovered in SuiteLink Version 2.0 which could potentially expose an unsecured automation network to a denial of service attempt. While there is no indication whatsoever of the existence of an exploit for this issue, Wonderware published a Technical Alert describing the issue and released a Patch in April to resolve the problem.

The vulnerability is closed in SuiteLink Version 2.0 Patch 01 and Wonderware is urging Customers to install the patch as soon as possible. More details can be found in Tech Alert 106 posted on the Wonderware Technical Support website. Customers who have not yet signed up for access to the Wonderware Technical Support website can register here free of charge to read the Tech Alert and receive the patch.

For customers on an active support program, Wonderware has also created the Wonderware Security Central Home Page to help our customers with security issues. Here we have posted “Securing Industrial Control Systems”, a security guidance manual describing recommended security protocols for automation enterprises and installations in a Microsoft environment. Customers, System Integrators, and IT professionals who build and maintain automation networks are advised to read and understand the manual, and to apply the design recommendations to their automation environment to mitigate security risks properly for all forms of security threats.

Wonderware Technical Support is also available to help customers needing advanced security assistance. More information is available about Wonderware Customer Support Programs by clicking here or by telephone at 1-800-WONDER-1 or by email at support@wonderware.com.

Wonderware also makes every effort to support Microsoft Security Updates within 15 business days of release. Information regarding Microsoft Security Update compatibility can be found on the Wonderware Security Central Home Page.

Wonderware will continue to provide guidance on security issues and to respond responsibly to security issues to serve our customers and to help them protect their operations

Vendor Information

The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.

Addendum

Refer to Wonderware Tech Alert 106 and Wonderware Security Manual - Securing Industrial Control Systems for more details.

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us email.

Wonderware Affected

Notified:  May 06, 2008 Updated: May 23, 2008

Status

Affected

Vendor Statement

Wonderware Statement on the potential SuiteLink Version 2.0 Denial of Service Vulnerability:

Wonderware, a business unit of Invensys, is a pioneer in the secure use of Microsoft Windows software for industrial applications and a leader in the field of Industrial Automation security. Wonderware is also committed to active collaboration and involvement with customers and industry standards authorities to provide secure applications, security best practices, deployment guidelines, tools and prescriptive guidance for maintaining a secure automation environment.

Recently, a vulnerability was discovered in SuiteLink Version 2.0 which could potentially expose an unsecured automation network to a denial of service attempt. While there is no indication whatsoever of the existence of an exploit for this issue, Wonderware published a Technical Alert describing the issue and released a Patch in April to resolve the problem.

The vulnerability is closed in SuiteLink Version 2.0 Patch 01 and Wonderware is urging Customers to install the patch as soon as possible. More details can be found in Tech Alert 106 posted on the Wonderware Technical Support website. Customers who have not yet signed up for access to the Wonderware Technical Support website can register here free of charge to read the Tech Alert and receive the patch.

For customers on an active support program, Wonderware has also created the Wonderware Security Central Home Page to help our customers with security issues. Here we have posted “Securing Industrial Control Systems”, a security guidance manual describing recommended security protocols for automation enterprises and installations in a Microsoft environment. Customers, System Integrators, and IT professionals who build and maintain automation networks are advised to read and understand the manual, and to apply the design recommendations to their automation environment to mitigate security risks properly for all forms of security threats.

Wonderware Technical Support is also available to help customers needing advanced security assistance. More information is available about Wonderware Customer Support Programs by clicking here or by telephone at 1-800-WONDER-1 or by email at support@wonderware.com.

Wonderware also makes every effort to support Microsoft Security Updates within 15 business days of release. Information regarding Microsoft Security Update compatibility can be found on the Wonderware Security Central Home Page.

Wonderware will continue to provide guidance on security issues and to respond responsibly to security issues to serve our customers and to help them protect their operations

Vendor Information

The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.

Addendum

Refer to Wonderware Tech Alert 106 and Wonderware Security Manual - Securing Industrial Control Systems for more details.

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us email.


CVSS Metrics

Group Score Vector
Base 0 AV:--/AC:--/Au:--/C:--/I:--/A:--
Temporal 0 E:ND/RL:ND/RC:ND
Environmental 0 CDP:ND/TD:ND/CR:ND/IR:ND/AR:ND

References

Acknowledgements

This vulnerability was reported in Core Security Advisory CORE-2008-0129.

This document was written by Chris Taschner.

Other Information

CVE IDs: CVE-2008-2005
Severity Metric: 3.07
Date Public: 2008-05-05
Date First Published: 2008-05-06
Date Last Updated: 2008-09-17 21:29 UTC
Document Revision: 15

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