CVE-2021-38393
📋 TL;DR
A blind SQL injection vulnerability in Delta Electronics DIAEnergie allows remote, unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands. This can lead to complete system compromise of affected DIAEnergie installations. Organizations using DIAEnergie version 1.7.5 and earlier are vulnerable.
💻 Affected Systems
- Delta Electronics DIAEnergie
📦 What is this software?
Diaenergie by Deltaww
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full system compromise with arbitrary code execution as NT SERVICE\MSSQLSERVER, potentially leading to data theft, system destruction, or lateral movement within the network.
Likely Case
Database compromise leading to data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and potential ransomware deployment.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper network segmentation and database permissions, though SQL injection could still expose sensitive data.
🎯 Exploit Status
SQL injection is well-understood with many available tools. The unauthenticated nature makes exploitation straightforward for attackers.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version 1.8.0 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-21-238-03
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download DIAEnergie version 1.8.0 or later from Delta Electronics. 2. Backup current installation and database. 3. Install the updated version following vendor instructions. 4. Restart the DIAEnergie service and verify functionality.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network Access Control
allRestrict access to the DIAEnergie web interface to trusted IP addresses only.
Use firewall rules to block all external access to port 80/443 on DIAEnergie server except from authorized management networks.
Web Application Firewall
allDeploy a WAF with SQL injection protection rules in front of DIAEnergie.
Configure WAF to block requests containing SQL injection patterns to /DataHandler/HandlerAlarmGroup.ashx
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network segmentation to isolate DIAEnergie from critical systems
- Apply principle of least privilege to the SQL Server service account
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check DIAEnergie version in application interface or installation directory. Versions 1.7.5 and earlier are vulnerable.Check Version:
Check the version.txt file in DIAEnergie installation directory or view version in web interface.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify installation of version 1.8.0 or later and test that the /DataHandler/HandlerAlarmGroup.ashx endpoint properly validates input parameters.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual SQL queries in SQL Server logs
- Multiple failed login attempts or unusual access patterns to HandlerAlarmGroup.ashx
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests to /DataHandler/HandlerAlarmGroup.ashx with SQL injection patterns in parameters
- Unusual outbound database connections
SIEM Query:
source="web_server" AND uri="/DataHandler/HandlerAlarmGroup.ashx" AND (param="agid" AND value CONTAINS "' OR ")