Hitachi Energy Relion 670, 650 and SAM600-IO (Update B)

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• CVSS v3 7.5
• ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely/low attack complexity
• Vendor: Hitachi Energy
• Equipment: Relion 670, 650, and SAM600-IO
• Vulnerabilities: Improper Input Validation

2. UPDATE INFORMATION

This updated advisory is a follow-up to the original advisory titled “ICSA-21-096-01 Hitachi ABB Power Grids Multiple Products” published April 6, 2021 on the ICS webpage at cisa.gov.

3. RISK EVALUATION

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could reboot the device regularly, resulting in a denial-of-service condition. The primary functionality of the device is not available during the reboot phase.

4. TECHNICAL DETAILS

4.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS

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Hitachi Energy reports the vulnerability affects the following products with IEC 61850 interfaces: 

• Relion 670 series: Versions 1.1, 1.2.3, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.3
• Relion 670/650 series:  Version 2.2.0
• Relion 670/650/SAM600-IO series: Version 2.2.1
• Relion 650 series: Versions 1.1, 1.2, 1.3

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4.2 VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW

4.2.1 IMPROPER INPUT VALIDATION CWE-20

An attacker with access to the IEC 61850 network and knowledge of how to reproduce the attack—as well as the IP addresses of the different IEC 61850 access points (of IEDs/products)—can force the device to reboot, which renders the device inoperable for approximately 60 seconds.  This vulnerability affects only products with IEC 61850 interfaces.

CVE-2021-27196 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 7.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

4.3 BACKGROUND

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

4.4 RESEARCHER

Markus Mahrla, GAI NetConsult GmbH and Lars Lengersdorf, Amprion GmbH reported this vulnerability to Hitachi Energy.

5. MITIGATIONS

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Hitachi Energy recommends users apply relevant updates at their earliest convenience. Users should contact Hitachi Energy to acquire firmware for a specific product version. Hitachi Energy has created the new versions to address this vulnerability:

• Relion 670 series version 1.1: Follow recommendation as listed in the Hitachi Energy advisory 9AKK107991A8932 mitigation section or upgrade to the latest product version.
• For upgrades, contact your local Hitachi Energy associates.
• Relion 670 series version 1.2.3: Fixed in revision 670 1.2.3.20
• Relion 670 series version 2.0: Fixed in revision 670 2.0.0.13
• Relion 670 series version 2.1: Fixed in revision 670 2.1.0.5
• Relion 670/650 series version 2.2.0: Fixed in revision 670 2.2.0.13
• Relion 670/650/SAM600-IO series version 2.2.1: Fixed in revision 670 2.2.1.6
• Relion 670 series version 2.2.2: Fixed in revision 670 2.2.2.3
• Relion 670 series version 2.2.3: Fixed in revision 670 2.2.3.2
• Relion 650 series version 1.1: Follow recommendation as listed in the Hitachi Energy advisory 9AKK107991A8932 mitigation section or upgrade to the latest product version.
• For upgrades, contact your local Hitachi Energy associates.
• Relion 650 series version 1.2: Follow recommendation as listed in the Hitachi Energy advisory 9AKK107991A8932 mitigation section or upgrade to product version 1.3.
• For upgrades, contact your local Hitachi Energy associates.
• Relion 650 series version 1.3: Fixed in revision 650 1.3.0.7

Hitachi Energy recommends the following security practices and firewall configurations to help protect a process control network from attacks originating outside the network:

• Physically protect process control systems from unauthorized direct access.
• Do not directly connect control systems networks to the internet.
• Separate process control systems from other networks using a firewall system with a minimal number of open ports.
• Do not use process control systems for internet surfing, instant messaging, or email.
• Carefully scan portable computers and removable storage media prior to connecting to a control system for malware.
• Ensure that only authorized personnel have access to the system configuration files.

More information on recommended practices can be found in the cybersecurity deployment guidelines for each product version.

For more information, see Hitachi Energy advisory 9AKK107991A8932.

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CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of this vulnerability. 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 us-cert.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 us-cert.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.

No known public exploits specifically target this vulnerability.