7.2 High
CVSS2
Attack Vector
LOCAL
Attack Complexity
LOW
Authentication
NONE
Confidentiality Impact
COMPLETE
Integrity Impact
COMPLETE
Availability Impact
COMPLETE
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
9.8 High
CVSS3
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality Impact
HIGH
Integrity Impact
HIGH
Availability Impact
HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.9 High
AI Score
Confidence
High
0.002 Low
EPSS
Percentile
59.7%
CVSS v3 8.1
ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely/low skill level to exploit
Vendor: General Electric
Equipment: Communicator
**Vulnerabilities:**Uncontrolled Search Path, Use of Hard-coded Credentials, Improper Access Controls
Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to gain administrative privileges, manipulate widgets and UI elements, gain control over the database, or execute administrative commands.
GE reports that the following Communicator components, all versions prior to 4.0.517, are affected:
3.2.1 UNCONTROLLED SEARCH PATH CWE-427
A non-administrative user may place malicious files within the installer file directory, which may allow an attacker to gain administrative privileges on a system during installation or upgrade.
CVE-2019-6564 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 7.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
3.2.2 UNCONTROLLED SEARCH PATH CWE-427
An attacker may place malicious files within the working directory of the program, which may allow an attacker to manipulate widgets and UI elements.
CVE-2019-6546 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 7.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
3.2.3 USE OF HARD-CODED CREDENTIALS CWE-798
Two backdoor accounts with hardcoded credentials exist, which may allow control over the database. This service is inaccessible to attackers if Windows default firewall settings are used by the end user.
CVE-2019-6548 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 8.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
3.2.4 IMPROPER ACCESS CONTROLS CWE-284
A service running with system privileges may allow an unprivileged user to perform certain administrative actions, which may allow the execution of scheduled scripts with system administrator privileges. This service is inaccessible to attackers if Windows default firewall settings are used by the end user.
CVE-2019-6544 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 5.6 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L).
3.2.5 IMPROPER ACCESS CONTROLS CWE-284
A non-administrative user may replace the uninstaller with a malicious version, which could allow an attacker to gain administrator privileges to the system.
CVE-2019-6566 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 7.3 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
Reid Wightman of Dragos reported these vulnerabilities to GE.
GE recommends users upgrade to GE Communicator version 4.0.517 or newer, which can be downloaded from the following link:
https://www.gegridsolutions.com/app/ViewFiles.aspx?prod=EPM9700&type=7
GE recommends ensuring Windows default firewall rules are active.
NCCIC recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of these vulnerabilities. Specifically, users should:
NCCIC reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures.
NCCIC also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS-CERT web page. Several recommended practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies.
Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available on the ICS-CERT website in the Technical Information Paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B–Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies.
Organizations observing any suspected malicious activity should follow their established internal procedures and report their findings to NCCIC for tracking and correlation against other incidents.
NCCIC also recommends that users take the following measures to protect themselves from social engineering attacks:
No known public exploits specifically target these vulnerabilities. Some of these vulnerabilities are exploitable remotely.
web.nvd.nist.gov/view/vuln/detail?vulnId=CVE-2019-6544
web.nvd.nist.gov/view/vuln/detail?vulnId=CVE-2019-6546
web.nvd.nist.gov/view/vuln/detail?vulnId=CVE-2019-6548
web.nvd.nist.gov/view/vuln/detail?vulnId=CVE-2019-6564
web.nvd.nist.gov/view/vuln/detail?vulnId=CVE-2019-6566
cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/284.html
cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/284.html
cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/427.html
cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/427.html
cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/798.html
public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCISA/subscriber/new?topic_id=USDHSCISA_138
twitter.com/CISAgov
twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=GE%20Communicator+https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-19-122-02
www.dhs.gov
www.dhs.gov/foia
www.dhs.gov/performance-financial-reports
www.facebook.com/CISA
www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-19-122-02&title=GE%20Communicator
www.first.org/cvss/calculator/3.0#CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
www.first.org/cvss/calculator/3.0#CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
www.first.org/cvss/calculator/3.0#CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
www.first.org/cvss/calculator/3.0#CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
www.first.org/cvss/calculator/3.0#CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
www.gegridsolutions.com/app/ViewFiles.aspx?prod=EPM9700&type=7
www.instagram.com/cisagov
www.linkedin.com/company/cybersecurity-and-infrastructure-security-agency
www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-19-122-02
www.oig.dhs.gov/
www.surveymonkey.com/r/CISA-cyber-survey?product=https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-19-122-02
www.usa.gov/
www.whitehouse.gov/
www.youtube.com/@cisagov
mailto:?subject=GE%20Communicator&body=www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-19-122-02
7.2 High
CVSS2
Attack Vector
LOCAL
Attack Complexity
LOW
Authentication
NONE
Confidentiality Impact
COMPLETE
Integrity Impact
COMPLETE
Availability Impact
COMPLETE
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
9.8 High
CVSS3
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Attack Complexity
LOW
Privileges Required
NONE
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality Impact
HIGH
Integrity Impact
HIGH
Availability Impact
HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.9 High
AI Score
Confidence
High
0.002 Low
EPSS
Percentile
59.7%