ABB MV Drives

Posted on

View CSAF

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

  • CVSS v4 8.7
  • ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely/low attack complexity
  • Vendor: ABB
  • Equipment: MV Drives
  • Vulnerabilities: Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer, Improper Input Validation, Out-of-bounds Write

2. RISK EVALUATION

Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to gain full access to the drive or cause a denial-of-service condition.

3. TECHNICAL DETAILS

3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS

ABB reports that the following MV Drives are affected by CODESYS RTS (Runtime System) vulnerabilities:

  • ACS6080: LAAAA 2.10.0 to LAAAB 5.06.1
  • ACS5000: LAAAB 4.03.0 to LAAAB 5.06.1
  • ACS6000: LAAAA 2.10.0 to LAAAB 5.06.1

3.2 VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW

3.2.1 IMPROPER RESTRICTION OF OPERATIONS WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF A MEMORY BUFFER CWE-119

The CODESYS Control runtime system does not restrict the memory access. An improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer allows an attacker with access to the drive with user privileges to gain full access of the drive.

CVE-2022-4046 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2022-4046. A base score of 8.7 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.2 IMPROPER INPUT VALIDATION CWE-20

In multiple versions of various CODESYS products, after successful user authentication, specifically crafted network communication requests with inconsistent content can cause the CmpApp component to read from an invalid internal address, potentially leading to a denial-of-service condition.

CVE-2023-37550 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2023-37550. A base score of 7.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.3 IMPROPER INPUT VALIDATION CWE-20

In multiple versions of various CODESYS products, after successful user authentication, specifically crafted network communication requests with inconsistent content can cause the CmpApp component to read from an invalid internal address, potentially leading to a denial-of-service condition.

CVE-2023-37549 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2023-37549. A base score of 7.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.4 IMPROPER INPUT VALIDATION CWE-20

In multiple versions of various CODESYS products, after successful user authentication, specifically crafted network communication requests with inconsistent content can cause the CmpApp component to read from an invalid internal address, potentially leading to a denial-of-service condition.

CVE-2023-37548 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2023-37548. A base score of 7.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.5 IMPROPER INPUT VALIDATION CWE-20

In multiple versions of various CODESYS products, after successful user authentication, specifically crafted network communication requests with inconsistent content can cause the CmpApp component to read from an invalid internal address, potentially leading to a denial-of-service condition.

CVE-2023-37547 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2023-37547. A base score of 7.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.6 IMPROPER INPUT VALIDATION CWE-20

In multiple versions of various CODESYS products, after a user successfully authenticates, specially crafted network communication requests with inconsistent content can cause the CmpApp component to read from an invalid internal address, potentially leading to a denial-of-service condition.

CVE-2023-37546 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2023-37546. A base score of 7.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.7 IMPROPER INPUT VALIDATION CWE-20

In multiple versions of various CODESYS products, after successful user authentication, specifically crafted network communication requests with inconsistent content can cause the CmpApp component to read from an invalid internal address, potentially leading to a denial-of-service condition.

CVE-2023-37545 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2023-37545. A base score of 7.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.8 IMPROPER INPUT VALIDATION CWE-20

In multiple versions of various CODESYS products, after successful user authentication, specifically crafted network communication requests with inconsistent content can cause the CmpAppBP component to read from an invalid internal address, potentially leading to a denial-of-service condition.

CVE-2023-37556 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2023-37556. A base score of 7.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.9 IMPROPER INPUT VALIDATION CWE-20

In multiple versions of various CODESYS products, after successful user authentication, specifically crafted network communication requests with inconsistent content can cause the CmpAppBP component to read from an invalid internal address, potentially leading to a denial-of-service condition.

CVE-2023-37555 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2023-37555. A base score of 7.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.10 IMPROPER INPUT VALIDATION CWE-20

In multiple versions of various CODESYS products, after successful user authentication, specifically crafted network communication requests with inconsistent content can cause the CmpAppBP component to read from an invalid internal address, potentially leading to a denial-of-service condition.

CVE-2023-37554 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2023-37554. A base score of 7.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.11 IMPROPER INPUT VALIDATION CWE-20

In multiple versions of various CODESYS products, after successful user authentication, specifically crafted network communication requests with inconsistent content can cause the CmpAppBP component to read from an invalid internal address, potentially leading to a denial-of-service condition.

CVE-2023-37553 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2023-37553. A base score of 7.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.12 IMPROPER INPUT VALIDATION CWE-20

In multiple versions of various CODESYS products, after successful user authentication, specifically crafted network communication requests with inconsistent content can cause the CmpAppBP component to read from an invalid internal address, potentially leading to a denial-of-service condition.

CVE-2023-37552 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2023-37552. A base score of 7.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.13 OUT-OF-BOUNDS WRITE CWE-787

After successful user authentication in multiple versions of various CODESYS products, specifically crafted remote communication requests can cause the CmpAppBP component to overwrite a heap-based buffer, potentially leading to a denial-of-service condition.

CVE-2023-37557 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2023-37557. A base score of 7.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.14 IMPROPER INPUT VALIDATION CWE-20

After successful user authentication in multiple versions of various CODESYS products, specifically crafted network communication requests with inconsistent content can cause the CmpAppForce component to read from an invalid internal address, potentially leading to a denial-of-service condition.

CVE-2023-37559 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2023-37559. A base score of 7.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.15 IMPROPER INPUT VALIDATION CWE-20

After successful user authentication in multiple versions of various CODESYS products, specifically crafted network communication requests with inconsistent content can cause the CmpAppForce component to read from an invalid internal address, potentially leading to a denial-of-service condition.

CVE-2023-37558 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2023-37558. A base score of 7.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.3 BACKGROUND

  • CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Critical Manufacturing
  • COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide
  • COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: Switzerland

3.4 RESEARCHER

ABB reported these vulnerabilities to CISA.

4. MITIGATIONS

ABB recommends users apply a firmware update as soon as possible to the latest firmware, i.e. LAAAB v. 5.07 and higher, for the affected products. ABB has addressed the CODESYS Runtime System vulnerabilities by disabling the IEC online programming communication by default. As a result, CODESYS communication between affected products and the ABB Automation Builder or ABB Drive Application Builder tools is disabled.
It should be noted that the CODESYS application continues to run on the Drive and if it is necessary to establish communication with CODESYS RTS, for example to debug the CODESYS application, this is possible through the drive parameter configuration. Open the user lock via the “96.02 Pass code” parameter and make sure that bit 9 “Enable online IEC programming” is set to TRUE in the “96.102 User lock functionality” parameter. IMPORTANT: After this task, be sure to disable CODESYS communication by setting the bit back to FALSE.
A future firmware update is planned to update the CODESYS RTS library, which will further strengthen defenses for the vulnerabilities mentioned above.

ABB recommends the following mitigating factors:
To exploit these vulnerabilities, a successful login to the affected product is required. This can be achieved by one of the following methods:

  • Connecting a computer to the Drive that is running Drive Automation Builder or Drive Composer.
  • Having access to the local network where the drive is located. In this case, an attacker could send malformed packets directly to the drive.
    To make the attack more difficult and less likely to succeed, provide network isolation where the drive is located and ensure that no computer running Drive Automation Builder or Drive Composer is connected to the drive without proper security controls. Please refer to “General security recommendations” for further advise on how to keep drive secure.

ABB proposes the following workaround to mitigate this threat for situations where the above actions are not feasible:

  • Set bit 2 “Disable file download” to TRUE in the “96.102 User lock functionality” parameter.
    Although these workarounds will not correct the underlying vulnerability, they can help block known attack vectors. Please see below to understand possible reduced functionality of the drive. IMPORTANT: Contact a qualified and certified ABB personnel for more information about the parameter handling of the affected products.
    Impact of workaround: This workaround restricts the updating of IEC programs, but existing IEC programs on Drives can still be used. To update an IEC program, the operator must unlock the user lock and enable file download in a protected network environment. It is highly recommended to disable file download, as vulnerabilities are more easily exploitable when file download is enabled. WARNING: The user lock cannot be opened even by ABB if the pass code is lost.

For more information, see ABB’s security advisory 9AKK108470A9989.

ABB strongly recommends the following general cybersecurity practices for any installation of software-related products (this list is non-exhaustive):

  • Isolate special purpose networks (e.g., automation systems) and remote devices behind firewalls, and separate them from any general-purpose network (e.g., office or home networks).
  • Install physical controls to prevent unauthorized personnel from accessing devices, components, peripheral equipment, and networks.
  • Never connect programming software or computers containing programming software to any network other than the network intended for the devices.
  • Scan all data imported into your environment before use to detect potential malware infections.
  • Minimize network exposure for all applications and endpoints to ensure they are not accessible from the Internet unless designed for such exposure and required for the intended use.
  • Ensure all nodes are always up to date with installed software, operating system, and firmware patches, as well as anti-virus and firewall protections.
  • When remote access is required, use secure methods, such as virtual private networks (VPNs). Recognize that VPNs may have vulnerabilities and should be updated to the most current version available. Also, understand that VPNs are only as secure as the connected devices.
  • Install the drive in a secure location accessible only to authorized personnel.
  • Install physical controls to ensure only authorized personnel can access devices connected to the drive (e.g., computers, peripheral equipment, and networks).
  • Avoid connecting computers containing Drive Automation Builder programming software to any network other than the network intended for the devices.
  • Ensure security controls are followed on computers connected to the drive, such as installing updated security patches, firewalls, and anti-virus software, and running only authorized software. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure these conditions.
  • More information on recommended practices can be found in Protecting operations through cyber security: ABB Drives solutions.

CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of these vulnerabilities. CISA reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures.

CISA also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS webpage on cisa.gov. Several CISA products detailing cyber defense best practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies.

CISA encourages organizations to implement recommended cybersecurity strategies for proactive defense of ICS assets.

Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available on the ICS webpage at cisa.gov in the technical information paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B–Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies.

Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.

CISA also recommends users take the following measures to protect themselves from social engineering attacks:

  • Do not click web links or open attachments in unsolicited email messages.
  • Refer to Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams for more information on avoiding email scams.
  • Refer to Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information on social engineering attacks.

No known public exploitation specifically targeting these vulnerabilities has been reported to CISA at this time.

5. UPDATE HISTORY

  • April 22, 2025: Initial Republication of ABB PSIRT 9AKK108470A9989

Related Posts