Siemens SICAM PQ Analyzer Unquoted Search Path or Element (CVE-2021-45460)

high Tenable OT Security Plugin ID 500845

Synopsis

The remote OT asset is affected by a vulnerability.

Description

A vulnerability has been identified in SICAM PQ Analyzer (All versions < V3.18). A service is started by an unquoted registry entry. As there are spaces in this path, attackers with write privilege to those directories might be able to plant executables that will run in place of the legitimate process. Attackers might achieve persistence on the system (backdoors) or cause a denial of service.

This plugin only works with Tenable.ot.
Please visit https://www.tenable.com/products/tenable-ot for more information.

Solution

The following text was originally created by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The original can be found at CISA.gov.

Siemens has released an update for the SICAM PQ Analyzer and recommends users update to Version 3.18 or later.

Siemens has identified the following specific workarounds and mitigations users can apply to reduce the risk:

- Make sure these executables do not exist, cannot be created, or cannot be executed (e.g., by Group Policy Software Restriction):
- C:\Program.*
- C:\Program Files.*
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Siemens.*
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Siemens Energy\SICAM\PQ.*
- Please note that blocking of e.g., “C:\Program.exe” is not sufficient, as the attacker could plant “C:\Program.com”, “C:\Program.msi” or an executable with any other extension there.

Siemens recommends operators check whether appropriate resilient protection measures are in place. The risk of cyber incidents impacting the grid’s reliability can thus be minimized by virtue of the grid design.

Siemens strongly recommends applying the provided security updates using the corresponding tooling and documented procedures made available with the product. If supported by the product, an automated means to apply the security updates across multiple product instances may be used. Siemens strongly recommends prior validation of any security update before being applied, and supervision by trained staff of the update process in the target environment.

As a general security measure Siemens strongly recommends protecting network access with appropriate mechanisms (e.g., firewalls, segmentation, VPN). It is advised users configure the environment according to Siemens operational guidelines to run the devices in a protected IT environment.

For additional information, please refer to Siemens Security Advisory SSA-173318

Plugin Details

Severity: High

ID: 500845

Version: 1.4

Type: remote

Family: Tenable.ot

Published: 2/28/2023

Updated: 3/4/2024

Supported Sensors: Tenable OT Security

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: Medium

Score: 5.2

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: Medium

Base Score: 5.5

Temporal Score: 4.1

Vector: CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:P

CVSS Score Source: CVE-2021-45460

CVSS v3

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 8.1

Temporal Score: 7.1

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

Temporal Vector: CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C

Vulnerability Information

CPE: cpe:/o:siemens:sicam_pq_analyzer_firmware

Required KB Items: Tenable.ot/Siemens

Exploit Ease: No known exploits are available

Patch Publication Date: 1/11/2022

Vulnerability Publication Date: 1/11/2022

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2021-45460

CWE: 428

Detections

Analytics