SSA-629512: Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability in TIA Portal
Publication Date:
2020-01-14
Last Update:
2022-06-14
Current Version:
V1.5
CVSS v3.1 Base Score:
7.8
SUMMARY
The latest updates for TIA Portal fix a vulnerability that could allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges.
Update: The previously provided fixes only correctly set the permissions on English Windows versions.
Siemens is preparing updates and recommends specific countermeasures for products where updates are not, or not yet available.
AFFECTED PRODUCTS AND SOLUTION
WORKAROUNDS AND MITIGATIONS
Siemens has identified the following specific workarounds and mitigations that customers can apply to reduce the risk:
Remove write permissions for every non-administrative user on files and folders located below the “TraceEngine” folder (usually located at “C:\ProgramData\Siemens\Automation”).
A partially working fix for Native Language Windows Versions in English or Multilingual User Interface (MUI) Windows Installation was included in TIA Portal Versions V14 SP1 Update 10, V15 SP1 Update 4,V16 Update 1 and V17.
Product specific remediations or mitigations can be found in the section Affected Products and Solution .
Please follow the General Security Recommendations .
GENERAL SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS
As a general security measure, Siemens strongly recommends to protect network access to devices with appropriate mechanisms. In order to operate the devices in a protected IT environment, Siemens recommends to configure the environment according to Siemens’ operational guidelines for Industrial Security (Download: https://www.siemens.com/cert/operational-guidelines-industrial-security ), and to follow the recommendations in the product manuals.
Additional information on Industrial Security by Siemens can be found at: https://www.siemens.com/industrialsecurity
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The Totally Integrated Automation Portal (TIA Portal) is a PC software that provides access to the complete range of Siemens digitalized automation services, from digital planning and integrated engineering to transparent operation.
VULNERABILITY CLASSIFICATION
The vulnerability classification has been performed by using the CVSS scoring system in version 3.1
(CVSS v3.1) (https://www.first.org/cvss ). The CVSS environmental score is specific to the customer’s
environment and will impact the overall CVSS score. The environmental score should therefore be
individually defined by the customer to accomplish final scoring.
An additional classification has been performed using the CWE classification, a community-developed
list of common software security weaknesses. This serves as a common language and as a baseline for
weakness identification, mitigation, and prevention efforts. A detailed list of CWE classes can be found
at: https://cwe.mitre.org/ .
Vulnerability CVE-2019-10934
Changing the contents of a configuration file could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges.
The security vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker with a valid account and limited access rights on the system. No user interaction is required.
At the time of advisory publication no public exploitation of this security vulnerability was known.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Siemens thanks the following parties for their efforts:
Abian Blome from
Siemens Energy
for pointing out, that the initial fix was only partially functional
Wiliam Knowles from
Applied Risk
for reporting the vulnerability
HISTORY DATA
V1.0 (2020-01-14): Publication Date
V1.1 (2020-04-14): Added solution for TIA Portal V16
V1.2 (2021-01-12): Added solution for TIA Portal V14
V1.3 (2021-12-14): Errata: Removed solutions: The previously provided fixes only correctly set the permissions on Native Language Windows Versions in English or Multilingual User Interface (MUI) Windows Installations and added TIA Portal V17 as affected product.
V1.4 (2022-05-10): Added solution for TIA Portal V15
V1.5 (2022-06-14): Added fix for TIA Portal V17
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