xArrow Vulnerabilities

This alert describes four vulnerabilities with proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit code affecting xArrow, a supervisory control and data acquisition/human-machine interface (SCADA/HMI) product.

table.gridtable {
font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif;
font-size:11px;
color:#333333;
border-width: 1px;
border-color: #666666;
border-collapse: collapse;
}
table.gridtable th {
border-width: 1px;
padding: 8px;
border-style: solid;
border-color: #666666;
background-color: #dedede;
}
table.gridtable td {
border-width: 1px;
padding: 8px;
border-style: solid;
border-color: #666666;
background-color: #ffffff;
}

Summary

ICS-CERT is aware of a public report detailing four vulnerabilities with proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit code affecting xArrow, a supervisory control and data acquisition/human-machine interface (SCADA/HMI) product. According to this report, these vulnerabilities are remotely exploitable. This report was released by independent security researcher Luigi Auriemma without coordination with either the vendor, ICS-CERT, or any other coordination entity that ICS-CERT is aware of.

ICS-CERT has coordinated this report with vendor in order to confirm the vulnerabilities and identify mitigations. ICS-CERT is issuing this alert to provide early notice of the report and identify baseline mitigations for reducing risks to these and other cybersecurity attacks.

The report included vulnerability details and PoC exploit code for the following vulnerabilities:

Please report any issues affecting control systems in critical infrastructure environments to ICS-CERT.

Follow-Up

ICS-CERT released a follow-up advisory ICSA-12-145-02 xArrow Vulnerabilities to the ICS-CERT Web site on May 23, 2012.

Mitigation

ICS-CERT is currently coordinating with the vendor and security researcher to identify mitigations.

ICS-CERT recommends that users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of these vulnerabilities. Specifically, users should:

• Minimize network exposure for all control system devices. Control system devices should not directly face the Internet.a
• Locate control system networks and devices behind firewalls, and isolate them from the business network.
• If remote access is required, employ secure methods, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), recognizing that VPN is only as secure as the connected devices.

ICS-CERT reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to taking defensive measures.

The Control Systems Security Program (CSSP) also provides a recommended practices section for control systems on the US-CERT website. Several recommended practices are available for reading or download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies.

Organizations that observe any suspected malicious activity should follow their established internal procedures and report their findings to ICS-CERT for tracking and correlation against other incidents.

• a. ICS-CERT ALERT, http://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/alerts/ICS-ALERT-10-301-01, website last accessed March 05, 2012.