1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- CVSS v3 7.5
- ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely/low attack complexity
- Vendor: Mitsubishi Electric
- Equipment: MELSEC iQ-F Series
- Vulnerability: Plaintext Storage of a Password
2. RISK EVALUATION
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an unauthenticated malicious actor to login to a file transfer protocol (FTP) server or web server by obtaining plaintext credentials stored in project files.
3. TECHNICAL DETAILS
3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS
The following Mitsubishi Electric MELSEC iQ-F products are affected:
- FX5U(C) CPU modules: All models, all versions
- FX5UJ CPU modules: All models, all versions
- FX5S CPU modules: All models, all versions
- FX5-ENET: All versions
- FX5-ENET/IP: All versions
3.2 VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW
3.2.1 PLAINTEXT STORAGE OF A PASSWORD CWE-256
Mitsubishi Electric MELSEC iQ-F series products are vulnerable to an information disclosure vulnerability due to the affected products storing passwords in plaintext.
CVE-2023-0457 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:H/I:N/A:N).
3.3 BACKGROUND
- CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Critical Manufacturing
- COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide
- COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: Japan
3.4 RESEARCHER
JeongHoon Bae, YiJoon Jung, JinYoung Kim, HyeokJong Yun, and HeeA Go of HelloT reported this vulnerability to Mitsubishi Electric.
4. MITIGATIONS
Mitsubishi Electric recommends users take the following mitigation measures to minimize the risk of a malicious actor exploiting this vulnerability:
- Encrypt the communication data or project files when sending and receiving or sharing these files.
- Use a firewall or virtual private network (VPN), etc. to prevent unauthorized access when internet access is required.
- Use product(s) within a local area network (LAN) and block access from untrusted networks and hosts using firewalls.
- Use the IP filter function to block access from untrusted hosts.
- For details regarding the IP filter function, users can refer to “12.1 IP Filter Function” in the MELSEC iQ-F FX5 User’s Manual (Ethernet Communication).
- Restrict physical access to affected products.
For specific update instructions and additional details, see the Mitsubishi Electric advisory.
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 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 this vulnerability. This vulnerability is not exploitable remotely.