1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- CVSS v3 6.4
- ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely
- Vendor: Johnson Controls, Inc.
- Equipment: exacqVision Web Service
- Vulnerability: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information
2. RISK EVALUATION
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to perform a man-in-the-middle attack and gain access to sensitive information.
3. TECHNICAL DETAILS
3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS
The following versions of Johnson Controls exacqVision Web Service are affected:
- exacqVision Web Service: Versions 24.03 and prior
3.2 Vulnerability Overview
3.2.1 CLEARTEXT TRANSMISSION OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION CWE-319
Under certain circumstances, Johnson Controls exacqVision Web Service versions 24.03 and prior, will not enforce secure web communications (HTTPS).
CVE-2024-32864 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.4 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).
3.3 BACKGROUND
- CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Critical Manufacturing, Commercial Facilities, Government Facilities, Transportation Systems, Energy
- COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide
- COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: Ireland
3.4 RESEARCHER
Diego Zaffaroni from Nozomi Networks reported this vulnerability to Johnson Controls, Inc.
4. MITIGATIONS
Johnson Controls recommends that users update exacqVision Web Service to version 24.06.
For more detailed mitigation instructions, please see Johnson Controls Product Security Advisory JCI-PSA-2024-17.
CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of this vulnerability, 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:
- Do not click web links or open attachments in unsolicited email messages.
- Refer to Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams for more information on avoiding email scams.
- Refer to Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information on social engineering attacks.
No known public exploitation specifically targeting this vulnerability has been reported to CISA at this time. This vulnerability has a high attack complexity.
5. UPDATE HISTORY
- August 01, 2024: Initial Publication
This alert has come from: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-24-214-04