CVE-2022-24324: Uncovering a CWE-120 Vulnerability in IGSS Data Server and How to Mitigate It

A recent vulnerability dubbed CVE-2022-24324 has come to light, having the potential to wreak havoc in vulnerable systems. This particular vulnerability is classified as CWE-120 (Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input) and could lead to a stack-based buffer overflow issue, which can further enable remote code execution. The issue arises when an attacker sends a specially crafted message to the affected product, exploiting the lack of input size validation. The most concerning part about this vulnerability is that it leaves the door wide open for unauthorized users to potentially take full control of the target system. This post will dive into the details of this exploit, the affected products, and suggest possible mitigations.

Affected Products

The main affected product is the IGSS Data Server - IGSSdataServer.exe (versions prior to V15...22073). The IGSS Data Server is a critical component of the Industrial Automation System which communicates with various devices and collects the required information for the centralized system to function efficiently.

Exploit Details

CVE-2022-24324 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability that exists due to improper validation of input size while copying data to a fixed-size buffer within the IGSSdataServer.exe process. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a specific message and sending it to the target process. The crafted message would essentially overflow the buffer, and lead to memory corruption. Consequently, malicious code could be executed within the context of the target process, potentially leading to loss of sensitive data, disruption of the target system, and total compromise of the affected system.

The Exploit Code Snippet

Below is a simplified and non-functional code snippet that demonstrates the nature of the vulnerability. This is solely for educational purposes and should not be used for malicious intent.

# The attacker-controlled message
attacker_message = "A" * 1024  # A string of 1024 "A" characters
buffer_size = 256

# Vulnerable function that copies the message without checking its size
def vulnerable_buffer_copy(buffer, message):
    destination_buffer = [None] * buffer_size
    for i, char in enumerate(message):
        destination_buffer[i] = char

# Triggering the vulnerability
vulnerable_buffer_copy(buffer_size, attacker_message)

When the vulnerable_buffer_copy() function attempts to copy the contents of attacker_message to destination_buffer, it doesn't check if the input size of the message is larger than the destination buffer, resulting in a buffer overflow.

Original References

1. Official CVE Entry: CVE-2022-24324
2. CWE Classification: CWE-120: Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input
3. Official Advisory: Schneider Electric Advisory

To address this vulnerability, the following steps are recommended

1. Update the affected IGSS Data Server to the latest version (V15...22073 or higher) to ensure you have the necessary security patches that resolve the issue.
2. Network segmentation and network-based access control lists (ACLs) should be implemented to limit the exposure of vulnerable systems within the network. By having tighter control over access, unauthorized users will have a harder time reaching the affected systems.
3. Regularly conduct security audits and vulnerability assessments of your infrastructure to identify any security flaws before they can be exploited.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-24324 is a critical vulnerability arising from the lack of proper input size validation in IGSS Data Server, which may lead to remote code execution. It's essential to be aware of and address such vulnerabilities to safeguard your systems against potential attacks. By following the recommended mitigations and keeping your software up-to-date, you can take a proactive step towards improving your infrastructure's cybersecurity posture.

Timeline

Published on: 02/01/2023 04:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 02/08/2023 15:58:00 UTC