CVE-2019-5171 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in the "I/O-Check" function of the iocheckd service in WAGO PFC 200 Firmware version 03.02.02(14) can be exploited through a command injection, allowing attackers to manipulate packets and target specific values.

Understanding CVE-2019-5171

This CVE involves a command injection vulnerability in the WAGO PFC 200 Firmware version 03.02.02(14) that can be exploited by sending specially crafted packets.

What is CVE-2019-5171?

This CVE refers to a command injection vulnerability in the iocheckd service 'I/O-Check' function of the WAGO PFC 200 Firmware version 03.02.02(14). Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to manipulate packets and target specific values extracted from an xml file.

The Impact of CVE-2019-5171

The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or system compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-5171

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability exists in the iocheckd service 'I/O-Check' function of the WAGO PFC 200 Firmware version 03.02.02(14). Attackers can exploit this by sending specially crafted packets to manipulate the hostname value extracted from an xml file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: WAGO PFC200
Vendor: Wago
Affected Version: Firmware version 03.02.02(14)

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers send manipulated packets to address 0x1ea48 to target the hostname value extracted from an xml file.
The extracted hostname value is used as an argument for the sprintf() function in the /etc/config-tools/config_interfaces script.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-5171 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-supplied patches or updates to fix the vulnerability.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update firmware and software to patch known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address weaknesses.
Educate users and administrators about safe computing practices.

Patching and Updates

WAGO PFC200 users should apply the latest firmware updates provided by the vendor to mitigate the vulnerability.