CVE-2024-5849
📋 TL;DR
This is a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability that allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in a user's browser. Attackers can steal sensitive information from users or reboot affected devices. Any user accessing a vulnerable web interface on affected devices is at risk.
💻 Affected Systems
- Specific product names not provided in reference; likely network devices or embedded systems with web interfaces
📦 What is this software?
Eip\/modbus Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs
Ethernet\/ip Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs
Icdm Rx\/tcp Socketserver Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs
View all CVEs affecting Icdm Rx\/tcp Socketserver Firmware →
Modbus Router Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs
Modbus Server Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs
Modbus Tcp Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs
Profinet Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attacker steals administrator credentials, gains full device control, and uses device as pivot point for further network attacks.
Likely Case
Attacker steals session cookies or authentication tokens from regular users, leading to account compromise and potential device reboot.
If Mitigated
Script execution blocked by browser security features or web application firewall, resulting in no impact.
🎯 Exploit Status
Reflected XSS typically requires user interaction (clicking malicious link) but is straightforward to exploit once discovered.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Check vendor advisory for specific patched versions
Vendor Advisory: https://cert.vde.com/en/advisories/VDE-2024-033
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Identify affected devices and current versions
2. Consult vendor advisory for patched firmware/software versions
3. Download and apply vendor-provided patches
4. Restart affected devices as required
5. Verify patch application and test functionality
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF)
allDeploy WAF with XSS protection rules to block malicious payloads
Disable Web Interface
allIf web management is not required, disable the web interface entirely
Device-specific configuration commands; consult vendor documentation
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers
- Deploy network segmentation to isolate vulnerable devices
- Enable browser security features like X-XSS-Protection
- Monitor for suspicious web requests and user behavior
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Test web interface with XSS payloads in input fields and URL parameters; check if scripts executeCheck Version:
Device-specific command; typically accessed via web interface or CLI (e.g., 'show version' or similar)Verify Fix Applied:
Retest with same XSS payloads after patching; verify scripts are properly sanitized or blocked📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual long URLs with script tags or JavaScript code
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by suspicious requests
- User agents containing script payloads
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests containing <script>, javascript:, or eval() patterns
- Requests to known vulnerable endpoints with unusual parameters
SIEM Query:
source="web_logs" AND (url="*<script>*" OR url="*javascript:*" OR parameters="*eval(*")