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1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

CVSS v4 8.6
ATTENTION: Low attack complexity
Vendor: Subnet Solutions Inc.
Equipment: PowerSYSTEM Center
Vulnerabilities: Reliance on Insufficiently Trustworthy Component

2. RISK EVALUATION

Successful exploitation of the vulnerabilities in components used by PowerSYSTEM Center could allow privilege escalation, denial-of-service, or arbitrary code execution.

3. TECHNICAL DETAILS

3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS

SUBNET Solutions reports that the following products use components with vulnerabilities:

PowerSYSTEM Center: Update 19 and prior

3.2 Vulnerability Overview

3.2.1 RELIANCE ON INSUFFICIENTLY TRUSTWORTHY COMPONENT CWE-1357

SUBNET Solutions Inc. has identified vulnerabilities in third-party components used in PowerSYSTEM Center.

CVE-2024-28042 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.4 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2024-28042. A base score of 8.6 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS4.0/AV:L/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: Critical Manufacturing, Energy
COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide
COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: Canada

3.4 RESEARCHER

SUBNET Solutions reported these vulnerabilities to CISA.

4. MITIGATIONS

Subnet Solutions has fixed these issues by identifying and replacing out of date libraries used in previous versions of PowerSYSTEM Center. Users are advised to update to version 5.20.x.x or newer. To obtain this software, contact Subnet Solution’s Customer Service.

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.

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

May 14, 2024: Initial Publication