(PT-2013-43) Positive Technologies Security Advisory
Hard-coded credentials in Siemens WinCC and SIMATIC PCS 7

Vulnerable software

Siemens WinCC
Version: 7.2 and earlier

Siemens SIMATIC PCS 7
Version: 8.0 SP1 and earlier

Application link:
http://www.siemens.com/

Severity level

Severity level: High
Impact: Unauthorized access, DoS
Access Vector: Remote  

CVSS v2:
Base Score: 7.5
Vector: (AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P)

CVE: CVE-2013-3958

Software description

Siemens WinCC is a part of Siemens SIMATIC HMI software that aimed to provide connection between an operator and PLCs that manage technological processes. The WebNavigator component of WinCC gives the users the possibility to control their plants via the web browser with the same look-and-feel like local operator stations.

Vulnerability description

The specialists of the Positive Research center have detected a vulnerability in Siemens WinCC and SIMATIC PCS 7 related to hard-coded credentials used in the login system .

Attackers with network access and knowledge of the credentials could log into the Web Navigator Web applications as an authenticated user. This could allow the attacker to execute any system action provided to an authenticated user.

How to fix

Update your software up to the latest version

Advisory status

03.03.2013 - Vendor gets vulnerability details
14.06.2013 - Vendor releases fixed version and details
03.07.2013 - Public disclosure

Credits

The vulnerability was detected by Alexander Tlyapov, Positive Research Center (Positive Technologies Company)

References

http://en.securitylab.ru/lab/PT-2013-43
http://www.siemens.com/corporate-technology/pool/de/forschungsfelder/siemens_security_advisory_ssa-345843.pdf
https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-13-169-02

Reports on the vulnerabilities previously discovered by Positive Research:

http://ptsecurity.com/research/advisory/
http://en.securitylab.ru/lab/

About Positive Technologies

Positive Technologies www.ptsecurity.com is among the key players in the IT security market in Russia.

The principal activities of the company include the development of integrated tools for information security monitoring (MaxPatrol); providing IT security consulting services and technical support; development of the Securitylab leading Russian information security portal.

Among the clients of Positive Technologies, there are more than 40 state enterprises, more than 50 banks and financial organizations, 20 telecommunication companies, more than 40 plant facilities, as well as IT, service and retail companies from Russia, the CIS countries, the Baltic States, China, Ecuador, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Iran, Israel, Japan, Mexico, the Republic of South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, and the USA.

Positive Technologies is a team of highly skilled developers, advisers and experts with years of vast hands-on experience. The company specialists possess professional titles and certificates; they are the members of various international societies and are actively involved in the IT security field development.