(PT-2015-12) Positive Technologies Security Advisory
Privilege Gaining in Siemens SIMATIC WinCC (TIA Portal)

Vulnerable software

Siemens SIMATIC WinCC (TIA Portal)
Version: 13 and earlier

Link:
http://www.siemens.com/

Severity level

Severity level: Medium
Impact: Privilege Gaining
Access Vector: Remote

CVSS v2:
Base Score: 6.8
Vector: (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P)

CVE: CVE-2014-4686

Software description

Siemens SIMATIC WinCC (TIA Portal) is an engineering software to configure and program SIMATIC Panels, SIMATIC Industrial PCs, and Standard PCs running WinCC Runtime Advanced or SCADA System WinCC Runtime Professional visualization software.

Vulnerability description

The specialists of the Positive Research center have detected a Privilege Gaining vulnerability in Siemens SIMATIC WinCC (TIA Portal).

Vulnerability exists due to a hard coded encryption key in WinCC RT Professional, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information and escalate their privileges by sniffing network traffic.

How to fix

Update your sofware up to the latest version

Advisory status

21.09.2012 - Vendor gets vulnerability details
13.02.2015 - Vendor releases fixed version and details
25.02.2015 - Public disclosure

Credits

The vulnerability was detected by Gleb Gritsai, Roman Ilin, Alexander Tlyapov, and Sergey Gordeychik, Positive Research Center (Positive Technologies Company)

References

http://en.securitylab.ru/lab/PT-2015-12
http://www.siemens.com/innovation/pool/de/forschungsfelder/siemens_security_advisory_ssa-543623.pdf

Reports on the vulnerabilities previously discovered by Positive Research:

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

About Positive Technologies

Positive Technologies is a leading provider of vulnerability assessment, compliance management and threat analysis solutions to more than 1,000 global enterprise clients. Our solutions work seamlessly across your entire business: securing applications in development; assessing your network and application vulnerabilities; assuring compliance with regulatory requirements; and blocking real-time attacks. Our commitment to clients and research has earned Positive Technologies a reputation as one of the foremost authorities on SCADA, Banking, Telecom, Web Application and ERP security, and distinction as the #1 fastest growing Security and Vulnerability Management firm in 2012, as shown in an IDC report*. To learn more about Positive Technologies please visit www.ptsecurity.com

*Source: IDC Worldwide Security and Vulnerability Management 2013-2017 Forecast and 2012 Vendor Shares, doc #242465, August 2013. Based on year-over-year revenue growth in 2012 for vendors with revenues of $20M+