Advantech Studio ISSymbol ActiveX Buffer Overflow
Act NowICS-CERT ICSA-12-137-02Feb 17, 2012
Summary
Advantech ISSymbol ActiveX Control versions 61.6.0.0 and Advantech Studio 6.1_SP6_Build_61.6.01.05 contain a buffer overflow vulnerability (CWE-119) in the ActiveX control component. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious input that causes a buffer overflow, leading to arbitrary code execution in the context of the engineering workstation user. The vendor has determined this product is end-of-life and will not provide patches.
What this means
What could happen
An attacker could execute arbitrary code on engineering workstations running Advantech Studio by exploiting a buffer overflow in the ISSymbol ActiveX control, potentially compromising control system design files and allowing unauthorized modifications to PLC/RTU logic.
Who's at risk
Engineering teams and system integrators who use Advantech Studio and ISSymbol ActiveX controls for designing and configuring control logic in water treatment plants, electrical substations, and other industrial facilities. This affects any staff using Windows-based engineering workstations to develop or modify PLC/RTU applications.
How it could be exploited
An attacker crafts a malicious web page or document containing specially crafted input that triggers a buffer overflow in the ISSymbol ActiveX control. When an engineer opens this content in Internet Explorer or embeds it in a local document, the overflow allows code execution with the privileges of the logged-in user (typically an engineering or administrator account on the workstation).
Prerequisites
- Internet Explorer or compatible ActiveX host (typically on Windows engineering workstations)
- User must visit a malicious webpage or open a malicious document that invokes the ISSymbol ActiveX control
- Advantech Studio or the ActiveX control must be installed on the target workstation
Buffer overflow vulnerability (memory corruption)High EPSS score (44.9%)No vendor patch available (end-of-life product)Affects engineering workstations with elevated privilegesActiveX controls run with user privilege context
Exploitability
High exploit probability (EPSS 44.9%)
Affected products (2)
2 EOL
ProductAffected VersionsFix Status
Advantech ISSymbol ActiveX Control: 61.6.0.061.6.0.0No fix (EOL)
Advantech Studio: 6.1_SP6_Build_61.6.01.056.1 SP6 Build 61.6.01.05No fix (EOL)
Remediation & Mitigation
0/5
Do now
0/3WORKAROUNDRemove or disable the Advantech ISSymbol ActiveX control from affected workstations if it is not actively used for engineering tasks
HARDENINGRestrict Internet Explorer access to trusted sites only; configure Internet Explorer security zones to block ActiveX controls from untrusted sources
HARDENINGDisable ActiveX control execution in Internet Explorer for the Internet and Untrusted Sites zones
Mitigations - no patch available
0/2The following products have reached End of Life with no planned fix: Advantech ISSymbol ActiveX Control: 61.6.0.0, Advantech Studio: 6.1_SP6_Build_61.6.01.05. Apply the following compensating controls:
HARDENINGIsolate engineering workstations on a segregated network segment with limited external web access
HARDENINGImplement application whitelisting on engineering workstations to prevent unauthorized code execution
CVEs (1)
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