CVE-2019-19301 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been identified in multiple SCALANCE and SIMATIC devices, potentially leading to a denial of service attack.

Understanding CVE-2019-19301

This CVE affects various Siemens SCALANCE and SIMATIC devices due to a vulnerability in the VxWorks-based Profinet TCP Stack.

What is CVE-2019-19301?

The vulnerability allows for manipulation of the Profinet TCP Stack, leading to potential denial of service attacks by incurring high costs for each incoming packet.

The Impact of CVE-2019-19301

The vulnerability could result in a denial of service attack on affected SCALANCE and SIMATIC devices, disrupting operations and potentially causing financial losses.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-19301

The vulnerability affects multiple Siemens SCALANCE and SIMATIC devices due to a flaw in the VxWorks-based Profinet TCP Stack.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows for manipulation of the Profinet TCP Stack, potentially leading to denial of service attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

SCALANCE X200-4P IRT: All versions < V5.5.0
SCALANCE X201-3P IRT: All versions < V5.5.0
SCALANCE X201-3P IRT PRO: All versions < V5.5.0
and many more (refer to vendor's advisory for full list)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted packets to the affected devices, causing them to incur high costs for processing each packet.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate action is necessary to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2019-19301.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply patches provided by Siemens to affected devices.
Implement network segmentation to isolate vulnerable devices.
Monitor network traffic for any signs of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch all industrial control systems.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing on critical devices.
Educate staff on cybersecurity best practices.

Patching and Updates

Siemens has released patches for affected devices to address the vulnerability. Ensure all devices are updated to the latest firmware version.