ICS Advisory

AVEVA SuiteLink Server

Release Date
Alert Code
ICSA-24-226-01

View CSAF

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

  • CVSS v4 8.7
  • ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely/low attack complexity
  • Vendor: AVEVA
  • Equipment: SuiteLink Server
  • Vulnerability: Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling

2. RISK EVALUATION

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to cause the server to consume excessive system resources, preventing processing of SuiteLink messages on the targeted host.

3. TECHNICAL DETAILS

3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS

The following AVEVA products with AVEVA SuiteLink Server installed, are affected:

  • SuiteLink: Versions 3.7.0 and prior
  • Historian: Versions 2023 R2 P01 and prior
  • InTouch: Versions 2023 R2 P01 and prior
  • Application Server: Versions 2023 R2 P01 and prior
  • Communication Drivers Pack: Versions 2023 R2 and prior
  • Batch Management: Versions 2023 and prior

3.2 Vulnerability Overview

3.2.1 ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES WITHOUT LIMITS OR THROTTLING CWE-770

If exploited, this vulnerability could cause a SuiteLink server to consume excessive system resources and slow down processing of Data I/O for the duration of the attack.

CVE-2024-7113 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 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).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2024-7113. A base score of 8.7 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.3 BACKGROUND

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

3.4 RESEARCHER

DOE CESER's CyTRICS program at Idaho National Laboratory reported this vulnerability to AVEVA.

4. MITIGATIONS

AVEVA recommends that organizations evaluate the impact of these vulnerabilities based on their operational environment, architecture, and product implementation. Users with the affected product versions should apply security updates as soon as possible.

All impacted products and affected versions can be fixed by installing SuiteLink v3.7.100.

AVEVA recommends the following general defensive measures:

  • Apply Host and/or Network firewall rules restricting the SuiteLink server to accept traffic only from trusted source(s). By default, SuiteLink listens on port 5413.

For more information, see AVEVA's Security Bulletin AVEVA-2024-007.

CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of this vulnerability, such as:

  • Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and/or systems, ensuring they are not accessible from the internet.
  • Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls and isolating them from business networks.
  • When remote access is required, use more secure methods, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), recognizing VPNs may have vulnerabilities and should be updated to the most current version available. Also recognize VPN is only as secure as the connected devices.

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/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.

CISA encourages organizations to implement recommended cybersecurity strategies for proactive defense of ICS assets.

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 exploitation specifically targeting this vulnerability has been reported to CISA at this time.

5. UPDATE HISTORY

  • August 13, 2024: Initial Publication

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Vendor

  • AVEVA