Facebook Google Plus Twitter LinkedIn YouTube RSS Menu Search Resource - BlogResource - WebinarResource - ReportResource - Eventicons_066 icons_067icons_068icons_069icons_070

CODESYS V3 Unauthenticated Webserver Memory Leak DoS

High

Synopsis

A memory leak condition exists in CODESYSControlService.exe (file version 3.5.15.40) due to failure to free heap-based memory buffers when handling a layer 7, SRV_VISU_REGISTERCLIENT request sent to web server URL endpoint /WebVisuV3. An unauthenticated, remote attacker can exploit this issue, via a series of specially crafted HTTP requests, to increase memory usage in the process which can potentially result in denial of service of the CODESYS V3 runtime system.

In the SRV_VISU_REGISTERCLIENT request, the attacker can specify more than one binary tags. The CmpVisuServer component in the runtime allocates a buffer from the heap to store certain data in a binary tag and stores the buffer pointer in a field of some structure:

__wibu00:0053FB9E      mov     ecx, [ebp+arg_pOut]
__wibu00:0053FBA1      imul    edx, [ecx+ST14.nItems], 2Ch
__wibu00:0053FBA5      push    edx
__wibu00:0053FBA6      push    offset aCmpvisuserver ; "CmpVisuServer"
__wibu00:0053FBAB      call    SysMemAllocData
__wibu00:0053FBB0      add     esp, 0Ch
__wibu00:0053FBB3      mov     ecx, [ebp+arg_pOut]
__wibu00:0053FBB6      mov     [ecx+ST14.pItems], eax

When a subsequent binary tag is processed, another memory buffer is allocated but its pointer is stored in the same location, overwriting the pointer for the previously allocated buffer. When the processing of the SRV_VISU_REGISTERCLIENT request is done, only the last buffer is freed:

__wibu00:0053D361 mov eax, [ebp+ST14.pItems]
 __wibu00:0053D367 push eax
 __wibu00:0053D368 push offset aCmpvisuserver ; "CmpVisuServer"
 __wibu00:0053D36D call SysMemFreeData

The issue can be summed up as:

for (i = 0; i < num_binary_tags; i++)
{
st14->pItems = SysMemAllocData(...,nItems * 0x2C,...);
}
...
SysMemFreeData(...,st14->pItems);

The SRV_VISU_REGISTERCLIENT request is carried in an HTTP header and it appears there is a maximum size (i.e., 48K) for HTTP headers. So the attacker may need to send a large of number requests in order to leak memory to a point where CODESYS runtime components may no longer able to allocate memory for their respective functionalities.

It appears that CODESYSControlService.exe employs some sort of memory garbage collection system, where allocated memory that is no longer in use can be freed. However, the attacker is still able to cause memory allocation failure as indicated in the log file:

2020-04-28T22:37:46Z, 0x00000054, 2, 0, 9, !!!! Warning: VisuInfoTuple not found for RegisterClient, ExtId: 376465, Application=APP
 2020-04-28T22:37:46Z, 0x00000057, 4, 0, 0, **** ERROR: Allocation of clienttags failed 576
 2020-04-28T22:37:46Z, 0x00000054, 2, 0, 9, !!!! Warning: VisuInfoTuple not found for RegisterClient, ExtId: 376467, Application=APP
 2020-04-28T22:37:46Z, 0x00000057, 4, 0, 0, **** ERROR: Allocation of clienttags failed 576
 2020-04-28T22:37:46Z, 0x00000054, 2, 0, 9, !!!! Warning: VisuInfoTuple not found for RegisterClient, ExtId: 376469, Application=APP
 2020-04-28T22:37:46Z, 0x00000057, 4, 0, 0, **** ERROR: Allocation of clienttags failed 576
 2020-04-28T22:37:46Z, 0x00000054, 2, 0, 9, !!!! Warning: VisuInfoTuple not found for RegisterClient, ExtId: 376471, Application=APP
 2020-04-28T22:37:46Z, 0x00000057, 4, 0, 0, **** ERROR: Allocation of clienttags failed 576
 2020-04-28T22:37:46Z, 0x00000054, 2, 0, 9, !!!! Warning: VisuInfoTuple not found for RegisterClient, ExtId: 376473, Application=APP
 2020-04-28T22:37:46Z, 0x00000057, 4, 0, 0, **** ERROR: Allocation of clienttags failed 576
 ...
 

Proof of Concept

codesys_v3_webserver_memory_leak_dos_tra_2020_46.py

Solution

Upgrade to V3.5.16.10.

Disclosure Timeline

04/28/2020 - Vulnerability discovered
05/01/2020 - Vulnerability reported to CODESYS. 90-day date is July 30, 2020.
05/07/2020 - CODESYS acknowledges. Asks how we would like to be credited.
05/07/2020 - Tenable replies and provides Python poc again.
05/07/2020 - CODESYS acknowledges.
05/21/2020 - Tenable asks for an update.
05/26/2020 - CODESYS can reproduce the issue, and is working on a fix. Afterward, they will schedule it for a fix version.
05/27/2020 - Tenable thanks CODESYS for the information.
06/16/2020 - Tenable asks for an update.
06/18/2020 - CODESYS has fixed the issue, and the release / advisory is scheduled for the week of July 20. They will acknowledge Tenable, Inc.
06/22/2020 - Tenable thanks CODESYS.
07/22/2020 - CODESYS notifies Tenable of their security advisory.

All information within TRA advisories is provided “as is”, without warranty of any kind, including the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, and with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, or timeliness. Individuals and organizations are responsible for assessing the impact of any actual or potential security vulnerability.

Tenable takes product security very seriously. If you believe you have found a vulnerability in one of our products, we ask that you please work with us to quickly resolve it in order to protect customers. Tenable believes in responding quickly to such reports, maintaining communication with researchers, and providing a solution in short order.

For more details on submitting vulnerability information, please see our Vulnerability Reporting Guidelines page.

If you have questions or corrections about this advisory, please email [email protected]

Risk Information

CVE ID: CVE-2020-15806
Tenable Advisory ID: TRA-2020-46
CVSSv2 Base / Temporal Score:
7.8 / 6.1
CVSSv2 Vector:
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C
CVSSv3 Base / Temporal Score:
8.6 / 7.7
CVSSv3 Vector:
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
Affected Products:
All CODESYS V3 runtime systems in all versions before V3.5.16.10. Please see the CODESYS advisory for more specific information on affected systems.
Risk Factor:
High

Advisory Timeline

07/22/2020 - Advisory published.

Tenable Vulnerability Management

Enjoy full access to a modern, cloud-based vulnerability management platform that enables you to see and track all of your assets with unmatched accuracy.

Your Tenable Vulnerability Management trial also includes Tenable Lumin and Tenable Web App Scanning.

Tenable Vulnerability Management

Enjoy full access to a modern, cloud-based vulnerability management platform that enables you to see and track all of your assets with unmatched accuracy. Purchase your annual subscription today.

100 assets

Choose Your Subscription Option:

Buy Now

Tenable Vulnerability Management

Enjoy full access to a modern, cloud-based vulnerability management platform that enables you to see and track all of your assets with unmatched accuracy.

Your Tenable Vulnerability Management trial also includes Tenable Lumin and Tenable Web App Scanning.

Tenable Vulnerability Management

Enjoy full access to a modern, cloud-based vulnerability management platform that enables you to see and track all of your assets with unmatched accuracy. Purchase your annual subscription today.

100 assets

Choose Your Subscription Option:

Buy Now

Tenable Vulnerability Management

Enjoy full access to a modern, cloud-based vulnerability management platform that enables you to see and track all of your assets with unmatched accuracy.

Your Tenable Vulnerability Management trial also includes Tenable Lumin and Tenable Web App Scanning.

Tenable Vulnerability Management

Enjoy full access to a modern, cloud-based vulnerability management platform that enables you to see and track all of your assets with unmatched accuracy. Purchase your annual subscription today.

100 assets

Choose Your Subscription Option:

Buy Now

Try Tenable Web App Scanning

Enjoy full access to our latest web application scanning offering designed for modern applications as part of the Tenable One Exposure Management platform. Safely scan your entire online portfolio for vulnerabilities with a high degree of accuracy without heavy manual effort or disruption to critical web applications. Sign up now.

Your Tenable Web App Scanning trial also includes Tenable Vulnerability Management and Tenable Lumin.

Buy Tenable Web App Scanning

Enjoy full access to a modern, cloud-based vulnerability management platform that enables you to see and track all of your assets with unmatched accuracy. Purchase your annual subscription today.

5 FQDNs

$3,578

Buy Now

Try Tenable Lumin

Visualize and explore your exposure management, track risk reduction over time and benchmark against your peers with Tenable Lumin.

Your Tenable Lumin trial also includes Tenable Vulnerability Management and Tenable Web App Scanning.

Buy Tenable Lumin

Contact a Sales Representative to see how Tenable Lumin can help you gain insight across your entire organization and manage cyber risk.

Try Tenable Nessus Professional Free

FREE FOR 7 DAYS

Tenable Nessus is the most comprehensive vulnerability scanner on the market today.

NEW - Tenable Nessus Expert
Now Available

Nessus Expert adds even more features, including external attack surface scanning, and the ability to add domains and scan cloud infrastructure. Click here to Try Nessus Expert.

Fill out the form below to continue with a Nessus Pro Trial.

Buy Tenable Nessus Professional

Tenable Nessus is the most comprehensive vulnerability scanner on the market today. Tenable Nessus Professional will help automate the vulnerability scanning process, save time in your compliance cycles and allow you to engage your IT team.

Buy a multi-year license and save. Add Advanced Support for access to phone, community and chat support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Select Your License

Buy a multi-year license and save.

Add Support and Training

Try Tenable Nessus Expert Free

FREE FOR 7 DAYS

Built for the modern attack surface, Nessus Expert enables you to see more and protect your organization from vulnerabilities from IT to the cloud.

Already have Tenable Nessus Professional?
Upgrade to Nessus Expert free for 7 days.

Buy Tenable Nessus Expert

Built for the modern attack surface, Nessus Expert enables you to see more and protect your organization from vulnerabilities from IT to the cloud.

Select Your License

Buy a multi-year license and save more.

Add Support and Training