Multiple Vulnerabilities in Hitachi Energy RTU500 Series

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1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• CVSS v4 7.0
• ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely/low attack complexity
• Vendor: Hitachi Energy
• Equipment: RTU500 Series
• Vulnerabilities: Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type

2. RISK EVALUATION

Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow the attacker to upload or transfer files of dangerous types that can be automatically processed within the product’s environment.

3. TECHNICAL DETAILS

3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS

The following versions of Hitachi’s RTU500 series CMU Firmware are affected:

• RTU500 series CMU Firmware: Version 12.0.1 – 12.0.14
• RTU500 series CMU Firmware: Version 12.2.1 – 12.2.11
• RTU500 series CMU Firmware: Version 12.4.1 – 12.4.11
• RTU500 series CMU Firmware: Version 12.6.1 – 12.6.9
• RTU500 series CMU Firmware: Version 12.7.1 – 12.7.6
• RTU500 series CMU Firmware: Version 13.2.1 – 13.2.6
• RTU500 series CMU Firmware: Version 13.4.1 – 13.4.4
• RTU500 series CMU Firmware: Version 13.5.1 – 13.5.3

3.2 Vulnerability Overview

3.2.1 UNRESTRICTED UPLOAD OF FILE WITH DANGEROUS TYPE CWE-434

A vulnerability exists in the stb-language file handling that affects the RTU500 series product versions listed below. A malicious actor could print random memory content in the RTU500 system log, if an authorized user uploads a specially crafted stb-language file.

CVE-2024-1531 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.2 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2024-1531. A base score of 7.0 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.2 UNRESTRICTED UPLOAD OF FILE WITH DANGEROUS TYPE CWE-434

A vulnerability exists in the stb-language file handling that affects the RTU500 series product versions listed below. A malicious actor could enforce diagnostic texts being displayed as empty strings, if an authorized user uploads a specially crafted stb-language file.

CVE-2024-1532 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2024-1532. A base score of 6.9 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.3 BACKGROUND

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

3.4 RESEARCHER

Hitachi Energy reported these vulnerabilities to CISA.

4. MITIGATIONS

Hitachi Energy has released the following mitigations for CVE-2024-1531 and CVE-2024-1532:

• RTU500 series CMU Firmware Version 12.7.1 – 12.7.6: Update to CMU Firmware Version 12.7.7
• RTU500 series CMU Firmware Version 13.2.1 – 13.2.6: Update to CMU Firmware Version 13.2.7

Until the updates are made available, Hitachi Energy recommends the following general mitigation factors/workarounds for the products with RTU500 series CMU firmware Versions 12.0.1 – 12.0.14, 12.2.1 – 12.2.11, 12.4.1 – 12.4.11, 12.6.1 – 12.6.9, 13.4.1 – 13.4.4, and 13.5.1 – 13.5.3 to address the vulnerabilities CVE-2024-1531 and CVE-2024-1532:

• Recommended security practices and firewall configurations can help protect a process control network from attacks originating from outside the network including.
• Physically protect process control systems from direct access by unauthorized personnel.
• Do not allow process control systems direct connections to the Internet.
• Separate process control systems from other networks by means of a firewall system that has a minimal number of ports exposed.
• Process control systems should not be used for Internet surfing, instant messaging, or receiving emails.
• Portable computers and removable storage media should be carefully scanned for viruses before they are connected to a control system.

For more information, see Hitachi Energy’s Security Advisories:

• Cybersecurity Advisory Multiple Vulnerabilities in Hitachi Energy’s RTU500 series Product

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/ics. 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/ics 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.

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

5. PUBLICATION HISTORY

• April 25, 2024: Initial Publication