Honeywell SoftMaster

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• CVSS v3 8.8
• ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely/low attack complexity
• Vendor: Honeywell
• Equipment: SoftMaster
• Vulnerabilities: Uncontrolled Search Path Element, Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource.
  
   

2. RISK EVALUATION

Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to execute code in the context of the application permissions or escalate privileges.

3. TECHNICAL DETAILS

3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS

Honeywell reports these vulnerabilities affect the following SoftMaster desktop application, a PLC software application: 

• SoftMaster: version 4.51

3.2 VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW

3.2.1    UNCONTROLLED SEARCH PATH ELEMENT CWE-427

If an attacker manages to trick a valid user into loading a malicious DLL, the attacker may be able to achieve code execution in the application’s context and permissions.

CVE-2022-2333 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 8.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

3.2.2    INCORRECT PERMISSION ASSIGNMENT FOR CRITICAL RESOURCE CWE-732

A local unprivileged attacker may escalate to administrator privileges, due to insecure permission assignment.

CVE-2022-2332 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 6.2 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N).

3.3 BACKGROUND

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

3.4 RESEARCHER

Noam Moshe of Claroty Research reported these vulnerabilities to Honeywell.

4. MITIGATIONS

Honeywell has released firmware update packages for the affected products on their website.

Honeywell recommends users with potentially affected products take the following steps to protect themselves:

• Update firmware of vulnerable and affected devices.
• Isolate systems from the internet or create additional layers of defense to their system from the internet by placing the affected hardware behind a firewall or into a demilitarized zone (DMZ).
• If remote connections to the network are required, then users should consider using a VPN or other means to ensure secure remote connections into the network where the device is located.

More information can be found in the Honeywell Security Notification SN2022-08-31 01 SoftMaster-R4.7

CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of these vulnerabilities. CISA also recommends users take the following measures to protect themselves from social engineering attacks:

• Do not click web links or open attachments in unsolicited 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.

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 at 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.

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 exploits specifically target these vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities are exploitable remotely. These vulnerabilities have a low attack complexity. 

• Honeywell