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AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution
ESB-2019.4312
Advisory (icsa-19-318-05) ABB Power Generation Information
Manager (PGIM) and Plant Connect
15 November 2019
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AusCERT Security Bulletin Summary
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Product: ABB Power Generation Information Manager (PGIM)
Publisher: ICS-CERT
Operating System: Windows
Impact/Access: Unauthorised Access -- Remote/Unauthenticated
Resolution: Patch/Upgrade
CVE Names: CVE-2019-18250
Original Bulletin:
https://www.us-cert.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-19-318-05
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ICS Advisory (ICSA-19-318-05)
ABB Power Generation Information Manager (PGIM) and Plant Connect
Original release date: November 14, 2019
Legal Notice
All information products included in http://ics-cert.us-cert.gov are
provided"as is" for informational purposes only. The Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) does not provide any warranties of any kind regarding any
information contained within. DHS does not endorse any commercial product or
service, referenced in this product or otherwise. Further dissemination of this
product is governed by the Traffic Light Protocol (TLP) marking in the header.
For more information about TLP, see http://www.us-cert.gov/tlp/ .
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
o CVSS v3 9.8
o ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely/low skill level to exploit
o Vendor: ABB
o Equipment: Power Generation Information Manager (PGIM) and Plant Connect
o Vulnerability: Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
2. RISK EVALUATION
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow a remote attacker to
bypass authentication and extract credentials from the device.
3. TECHNICAL DETAILS
3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS
The following versions of Power Generation Information Manager (PGIM) and Plant
Connect monitoring platforms are affected:
o Power Generation Information Manager (PGIM): All versions
o Plant Connect: All versions
3.2 VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW
3.2.1 AUTHENTICATION BYPASS USING AN ALTERNATE PATH OR CHANNEL CWE-288
The affected product is vulnerable to authentication bypass, which may allow an
attacker to remotely bypass authentication and extract credentials from the
affected device.
CVE-2019-18250 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of
9.8 has been assigned; the CVSS vector string is ( AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/
I:H/A:H ).
3.3 BACKGROUND
o CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Chemical, Critical Manufacturing, Dams,
Energy, Food and Agriculture, Water and Wastewater
o COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide
o COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: Switzerland
3.4 RESEARCHER
Rikard Bodforss of Bodforss Consulting reported this vulnerability to ABB.
4. MITIGATIONS
ABB reports PGIM will transition to a limited support phase in January, 2020,
and Plant Connect is already obsolete.
Users are advised to upgrade to Symphony Plus Historian, which is not affected
by this vulnerability. Symphony Plus Historian is the successor to the PGIM and
Plant Connect products and features improved cybersecurity.
ABB further recommends users of PGIM not use the same credentials for Windows
login as used to log into the PGIM and Plant Connect applications.
Additionally, end users who cannot immediately upgrade should consider
protecting network communication by use of IPSec or other means. Users should
contact ABB for additional support details.
For additional instructions and support, please contact ABB service at: https:/
/new.abb.com/contact-centers
Information about ABB's cybersecurity program and capabilities can be found at:
http://www.abb.com/cybersecurity
For more information, see ABB's security advisory 8VZZ002158 .
CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of
exploitation of this vulnerability. Specifically, users should:
o Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and/or systems,
and ensure that they are not accessible from the Internet .
o Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls, and
isolate them from the business network.
o When remote access is required, use secure methods, such as Virtual Private
Networks (VPNs), recognizing that VPNs may have vulnerabilities and should
be updated to the most current version available. Also recognize that VPN
is only as secure as the connected devices.
CISA reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk
assessment prior to deploying defensive measures.
CISA also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices
on the ICS webpage on us-cert.gov . 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 webpage on us-cert.gov 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 CISA for tracking
and correlation against other incidents.
No known public exploits specifically target this vulnerability.
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