CVE-2023-5188 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-5188 was published by CERTVDE on December 5, 2023. It pertains to an improper input validation vulnerability in the WAGO Telecontrol Configurator and WagoAppRTU products, specifically affecting versions below 1.4.6.0. The vulnerability could allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to exploit the MMS Interpreter of WagoAppRTU, causing a denial-of-service condition until the affected device is restarted.

Understanding CVE-2023-5188

This section delves deeper into the details of the CVE-2023-5188 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2023-5188?

The CVE-2023-5188 vulnerability involves an improper input validation issue in the MMS Interpreter of WagoAppRTU versions below 1.4.6.0. This vulnerability is utilized by the WAGO Telecontrol Configurator and can be exploited by remote unauthenticated attackers.

The Impact of CVE-2023-5188

The impact of CVE-2023-5188 is significant, as it poses a high availability impact. By sending specially crafted packets, attackers can trigger a denial-of-service condition on the affected device, causing disruption until a manual restart is performed.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-5188

In this section, we will explore the technical aspects of CVE-2023-5188.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from improper input validation in the MMS Interpreter of WagoAppRTU versions below 1.4.6.0, leading to susceptibility to malformed packets sent by remote unauthenticated attackers.

Affected Systems and Versions

The CVE-2023-5188 vulnerability affects the WAGO Telecontrol Configurator and WagoAppRTU versions below 1.4.6.0.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending specifically crafted packets to the affected device's MMS Interpreter, causing a denial-of-service condition that persists until the device is restarted.

Mitigation and Prevention

Mitigating CVE-2023-5188 requires proactive security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Security teams should implement network-level protections to filter out potentially harmful packets.
Regularly monitor network traffic for any unusual patterns that might indicate an ongoing attack.
Apply vendor-supplied patches or updates to address the vulnerability effectively.

Long-Term Security Practices

It is essential to conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities promptly.
Educate users and IT staff about the importance of cybersecurity hygiene to prevent successful attacks.
Ensure that all devices and applications are updated with the latest security patches and configurations.

Patching and Updates

WAGO users should promptly apply the patch provided by the vendor to mitigate the CVE-2023-5188 vulnerability.
Regularly check for security advisories from WAGO and CERTVDE to stay informed about potential threats and security updates.