CVE-2024-23315 – An unauthenticated read-what-where vulnerabilit... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2024-23315?

CVE-2024-23315 has a CVSS score of 7.5 (HIGH). An unauthenticated read-what-where vulnerability in AutomationDirect P3-550E programming software allows attackers to read arbitrary memory locations via specially crafted network packets. This can lead to disclosure of sensitive information including credentials, configuration data, or proprietary logic. Organizations using affected versions of P3-550E with network connectivity are at risk.

📋 TL;DR

An unauthenticated read-what-where vulnerability in AutomationDirect P3-550E programming software allows attackers to read arbitrary memory locations via specially crafted network packets. This can lead to disclosure of sensitive information including credentials, configuration data, or proprietary logic. Organizations using affected versions of P3-550E with network connectivity are at risk.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

AutomationDirect P3-550E

Versions: 1.2.10.9 and likely earlier versions

Operating Systems: Windows (hosting programming software)

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Vulnerability affects the Programming Software Connection IMM 01A1 Memory Read functionality when network access is available.

📦 What is this software?

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Complete compromise of industrial control system including theft of intellectual property, credential harvesting leading to lateral movement, and potential manipulation of industrial processes.

🟠

Likely Case

Information disclosure of sensitive data including ladder logic programs, configuration parameters, and network credentials stored in memory.

🟢

If Mitigated

Limited impact if systems are properly segmented and network access is restricted to authorized personnel only.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: LIKELY

Unauthenticated Exploit: ⚠️ Yes

Complexity: LOW

Exploitation requires network access to the vulnerable service but no authentication. Attackers can craft malicious packets to read arbitrary memory locations.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Check vendor advisory for latest patched version

Vendor Advisory: https://community.automationdirect.com/s/internal-database-security-advisory/a4GPE0000003yZ72AI/sa00037

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Review vendor advisory SA00037. 2. Download latest patched version from AutomationDirect. 3. Install update on all affected systems. 4. Restart affected services/systems.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Network Segmentation

all

Isolate P3-550E systems from untrusted networks using firewalls or VLANs

Access Control Lists

linux

Restrict network access to only authorized IP addresses

# Example firewall rule (adjust for your environment)
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport [P3-550E_PORT] -s [TRUSTED_IP] -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport [P3-550E_PORT] -j DROP

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement strict network segmentation to isolate affected systems from untrusted networks
Deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and memory read anomalies

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check P3-550E software version. If version is 1.2.10.9 or earlier and network access is available, assume vulnerable.

Check Version:

Check version in P3-550E software interface or installation directory properties

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify software version has been updated to patched version specified in vendor advisory.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unusual network connections to P3-550E service port
Multiple failed authentication attempts followed by memory read operations

Network Indicators:

Malformed packets to P3-550E service port
Unusual memory read request patterns from untrusted sources

SIEM Query:

source_ip NOT IN (trusted_ips) AND dest_port = [P3-550E_PORT] AND protocol = TCP

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-23315

CVSS v3 Score: 7.5 (HIGH)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

CWE: CWE-284

Published: May 28, 2024

Last Updated: February 12, 2025

🔗 References

https://community.automationdirect.com/s/internal-database-security-advisory/a4GPE0000003yZ72AI/sa00037 Vendor Advisory
https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2024-1941 Exploit,Third Party Advisory
https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2024-1941 Exploit,Third Party Advisory
https://community.automationdirect.com/s/internal-database-security-advisory/a4GPE0000003yZ72AI/sa00037 Vendor Advisory
https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2024-1941 Exploit,Third Party Advisory
https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2024-1941 Exploit,Third Party Advisory

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