Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation Engineering Products (Update K)

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• CVSS v3 8.3
• ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely
• Vendor: Mitsubishi Electric
• Equipment: Mitsubishi Electric, Factory Automation Engineering products
• Vulnerability: Unquoted Search Path or Element

2. UPDATE INFORMATION

This updated advisory is a follow-up to the advisory update titled ICSA-20-212-04 Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation Engineering Products (Update J) that was published March 2, 2023, to the ICS webpage on cisa.gov/ics. 

3. RISK EVALUATION

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may allow an attacker to obtain unauthorized information, modify information, and cause a denial-of-service condition.

4. TECHNICAL DETAILS

4.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS

The following products and versions are affected:

• C Controller Interface Module Utility, Versions 2.00 and prior
• CC-Link IE Control Network Data Collector, Version 1.00A
• CC-Link IE Field Network Data Collector, Version 1.00A
• CC-Link IE TSN Data Collector, Version 1.00A
• CPU Module Logging Configuration Tool, Versions 1.100E and prior
• CW Configurator, Versions 1.010L and prior
• Data Transfer, Versions 3.42U and prior
• EZSocket, version 5.1 and prior
• FR Configurator SW3, all versions
• FR Configurator2: Versions 1.26C and prior
• GT Designer2 Classic, all versions
• GT Designer3 Version1 (GOT1000), Versions 1.241B and prior
• GT Designer3 Version1 (GOT2000), Versions 1.241B and prior
• GT SoftGOT1000 Version3, Versions 3.200J and prior
• GT SoftGOT2000 Version1, Versions 1.241B and prior
• GX Developer, Versions 8.504A and prior
• GX LogViewer, Versions 1.100E and prior
• GX Works2, Versions 1.601B and prior
• GX Works3, Versions 1.063R and prior
• M_CommDTM-IO-Link, Versions 1.03D and prior
• MELFA-Works: Version 4.4 and prior
• MELSEC WinCPU Setting Utility, all versions
• MELSOFT Complete Clean Up Tool, Versions 1.06G and prior
• MELSOFT EM Software Development Kit, Versions 1.015R and prior
• MELSOFT iQ AppPortal, 1.17T and prior
• MELSOFT Navigator, Versions 2.74C and prior
• MI Configurator, Version 1.004E and prior
• Motion Control Setting, Versions 1.005F and prior
• Motorizer, Versions 1.005F and prior
• MR Configurator2, Version 1.125F and prior
• MT Works2, Version 1.167Z and prior
• MTConnect Data Collector, Version 1.1.4.0 and prior
• MX Component, Version 4.20W and prior
• MX MESInterface, Versions 1.21X and prior
• MX MESInterface-R, Versions 1.12N and prior
• MX Sheet, Version 2.15R and prior
• Network Interface Board CC IE Control Utility, Versions 1.29F and prior
• Network Interface Board CC IE Field Utility, Versions 1.16S and prior
• Network Interface Board CC-Link Ver.2 Utility, Versions 1.23Z and prior
• Network Interface Board MNETH Utility, Versions 34L and prior
• Position Board Utility 2: Versions 3.20 and prior
• PX Developer, version 1.53F and prior
• RT ToolBox2: Version 3.73B and prior
• RT ToolBox3: Version 1.82L and prior
• Setting/Monitoring tools for the C Controller module (SW3PVC-CCPU), Version 3.13P and prior
• Setting/Monitoring tools for the C Controller module (SW4PVC-CCPU), Version 4.12N and prior
• SLMP Data Collector, Version 1.04E and prior

4.2 VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW

4.2.1    UNQUOTED SEARCH PATH OR ELEMENT CWE-428

Multiple Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation engineering software products have a malicious code execution vulnerability. A malicious attacker could use this vulnerability to obtain information, modify information, and cause a denial-of-service condition.

CVE-2020-14521 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 8.3 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).

4.3 BACKGROUND

• CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Critical Manufacturing
• COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide
• COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: Japan 

4.4 RESEARCHER

Mashav Sapir of Claroty reported this vulnerability to CISA.

5. MITIGATIONS

Mitsubishi Electric recommends the following mitigations:

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Refer to the Mitsubishi Electric website for details on available patches and countermeasures.

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Download the latest version of each software product and update it. 

Refer to the manual for help to update affected products.

For users of a product that has not released a fixed version or who cannot immediately update the product, Mitsubishi Electric recommends taking the following mitigation measures to minimize risk:

• If a “File Name Warning” message is displayed when starting Windows, take appropriate measures according to the instructions in the message (such as changing a file name) and then install or operate the products.
• Operate the products under an account that does not have administrator privileges.
• Install an antivirus software in computers using the products.
• Restrict network exposure for all control system devices or systems to the minimum necessary and ensure they are not accessible from untrusted networks and hosts.
• Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls and isolate them from the network.
• Use virtual private network (VPN) when remote access is required.

Additional information about the vulnerabilities or Mitsubishi Electric's compensating control is available by contacting a Mitsubishi Electric representative. 

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. Several recommended practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies.

Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available on the ICS webpage on cisa.gov in the Technical Information Paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B--Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies.



Organizations observing any suspected malicious activity should follow their established internal procedures and report their findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.

CISA also recommends users take the following measures to protect themselves from social engineering attacks:

• Do not click web links or open unsolicited attachments in email messages.
• Refer to Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams for more information on avoiding email scams.
• Refer to Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information on social engineering attacks.

No known public exploits specifically target this vulnerability. This vulnerability has a high attack complexity.

• Mitsubishi Electric