CVE-2023-27981 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE record was published on March 21, 2023, and is associated with Schneider Electric. The vulnerability identified is CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which potentially leads to remote code execution through Custom Reports in certain Schneider Electric products.

Understanding CVE-2023-27981

This section delves deeper into the details of CVE-2023-27981, shedding light on its nature, impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-27981?

CVE-2023-27981 involves an improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory vulnerability within Custom Reports. The flaw may be exploited by an attacker to execute malicious code remotely when a user attempts to open a compromised report.

The Impact of CVE-2023-27981

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as high (CVSS base score of 7.8), with potential risks to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. The attack vector is local, with low complexity and no specific privileges required.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-27981

In this section, we will explore the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism associated with CVE-2023-27981.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in Custom Reports, allowing for improper handling of pathnames, potentially enabling unauthorized remote code execution when interacting with malicious reports.

Affected Systems and Versions

The following Schneider Electric products are affected by CVE-2023-27981:

IGSS Data Server (IGSSdataServer.exe) version 16.0.0.23040 and prior
IGSS Dashboard (DashBoard.exe) version 16.0.0.23040 and prior
Custom Reports (RMS16.dll) version 16.0.0.23040 and prior

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would craft a malicious report and entice a user to open it within the affected applications. Upon opening the report, the attacker could potentially trigger remote code execution on the victim's system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Mitigating CVE-2023-27981 involves immediate steps to take, implementing long-term security practices, and applying relevant patches and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users of affected Schneider Electric products are advised to exercise caution when interacting with Custom Reports and to avoid opening reports from untrusted or unknown sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Incorporating secure coding practices, conducting regular security assessments, and fostering security awareness among users can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Schneider Electric may release security patches or updates to address CVE-2023-27981. It is crucial for users to promptly apply these patches and keep their systems up to date to mitigate the risk of exploitation.