CVE-2020-18758
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in Dut Computer Control Engineering Co.'s PLC MAC1100 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected programmable logic controllers. It affects industrial control systems using this specific PLC model, potentially allowing complete device compromise.
💻 Affected Systems
- DCCE PLC MAC1100
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete compromise of industrial control systems leading to physical process disruption, equipment damage, or safety incidents in critical infrastructure.
Likely Case
Unauthorized code execution allowing attackers to manipulate PLC operations, disrupt industrial processes, or establish persistence in industrial networks.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if PLCs are isolated in segmented networks with strict access controls and monitoring.
🎯 Exploit Status
Public GitHub repository contains exploit details. CWE-77 (Command Injection) suggests straightforward exploitation.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Unknown
Vendor Advisory: Not found in provided references
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
Check vendor website for firmware updates. If unavailable, implement network segmentation and access controls.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network Segmentation
allIsolate PLCs in separate VLANs with strict firewall rules
Access Control Lists
allRestrict network access to PLCs to authorized engineering stations only
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network segmentation to isolate PLCs from general network traffic
- Deploy industrial firewall with deep packet inspection between PLCs and other networks
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check PLC model and firmware version against vendor advisories. Test network connectivity to PLC programming ports.Check Version:
Vendor-specific command via programming software or web interfaceVerify Fix Applied:
Verify firmware version matches patched version from vendor. Test exploit attempts fail.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unauthorized connection attempts to PLC programming ports
- Unexpected firmware uploads or configuration changes
Network Indicators:
- Traffic to PLC programming ports from unauthorized IPs
- Malformed packets to PLC services
SIEM Query:
source_ip NOT IN (authorized_engineering_stations) AND dest_port IN (plc_programming_ports)