CVE-2018-13993 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability in the WebUI of PHOENIX CONTACT FL SWITCH 3xxx, 4xxx, and 48xx versions 1.0 to 1.34 exposes it to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) threats.

Understanding CVE-2018-13993

This CVE entry describes a CSRF vulnerability affecting specific versions of PHOENIX CONTACT FL SWITCH devices.

What is CVE-2018-13993?

The vulnerability in the WebUI of PHOENIX CONTACT FL SWITCH 3xxx, 4xxx, and 48xx versions 1.0 to 1.34 allows for CSRF attacks, potentially leading to unauthorized actions being performed on behalf of an authenticated user.

The Impact of CVE-2018-13993

The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.0 base score of 8.8, categorizing it as a high-severity issue with significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems. The attack complexity is low, but user interaction is required.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-13993

This section provides more in-depth technical details of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The WebUI of PHOENIX CONTACT FL SWITCH 3xxx, 4xxx, and 48xx versions 1.0 to 1.34 is susceptible to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

PHOENIX CONTACT FL SWITCH 3xxx, 4xxx, and 48xx versions 1.0 to 1.34

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited through crafted web requests that trick authenticated users into executing unintended actions.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-13993 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement network-level protections to detect and block CSRF attacks.
Regularly monitor and audit web traffic for suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security training for users to recognize and report potential CSRF attempts.
Keep systems up to date with security patches and updates.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that the PHOENIX CONTACT FL SWITCH devices are updated with the latest firmware patches to mitigate the CSRF vulnerability.