CISA Advisory: Advantech ADAM-5550 | CISA

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1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• CVSS v4 8.7
• ATTENTION: Low attack complexity
• Vendor: Advantech
• Equipment: ADAM-5550
• Vulnerabilities: Weak Encoding for Password, Cross-site Scripting

2. RISK EVALUATION

Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow a remote attacker to intercept the easily decodable credentials of a legitimate user to gain full access to the device and could plant malicious code on the web page of the device.

3. TECHNICAL DETAILS

3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS

The following versions of Advantech’s ADAM, are affected:

• Advantech ADAM 5550: All versions

3.2 Vulnerability Overview

3.2.1 WEAK ENCODING FOR PASSWORD CWE-261

User credentials are shared with a low level of encryption, consisting of base 64 encoding.

CVE-2024-37187 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.7 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2024-37187. A base score of 6.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.2 IMPROPER NEUTRALIZATION OF INPUT DURING WEB PAGE GENERATION (‘CROSS-SITE SCRIPTING’) CWE-79

Advantech ADAM 5550’s web application includes a “logs” page where all the HTTP requests received are displayed to the user. The device doesn’t correctly neutralize malicious code when parsing HTTP requests to generate page output.

CVE-2024-38308 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2024-38308. A base score of 8.7 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:A/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.3 BACKGROUND

• CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Energy, Water and Wastewater Systems
• COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide
• COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: Taiwan

3.4 RESEARCHER

Aarón Flecha Menéndez and Luis Villalba Pérez of S21sec reported these vulnerabilities to CISA.

4. MITIGATIONS

ADAM-5550 is currently being phased out, and Advantech strongly recommends all ADAM-5550 users upgrade to ADAM-5630 firmware version 2.5.2 or higher.

CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of these vulnerabilities, 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.

CISA also recommends users take the following measures to protect themselves from social engineering attacks:

No known public exploitation specifically targeting these vulnerabilities has been reported to CISA at this time. These vulnerabilities are not exploitable remotely.

5. UPDATE HISTORY

• September 26, 2024: Initial Publication