CVE-2022-2848: (Pwn2Own) Kepware KEPServerEX Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Published Mar 29, 2023
·
Updated

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Kepware KEPServerEX 6.11.718.0. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the handling of text encoding conversions. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-16486.

Other sources

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Kepware KEPServerEX. Authentication is not required to exploit this vulnerability. The specific flaw exists within the handling of text encoding conversions. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of SYSTEM.

Affected Software

14 affected componentsFixes available
Kepware KEPServerEX
PTC Kepware KEPServerEX<6.12
6.12
PTC ThingWorkx Kepware Server<6.12
6.12
PTC ThingWorkx Industrial Connectivity
PTC OPC-Aggregator<6.12
6.12
PTC ThingWorkx Kepware Edge<=1.4
GE Industrial Gateway Server<7.612
PTC Kepware KEPServerEX<6.12
PTC OPC-Aggregator<6.12
PTC ThingWorx Industrial Connectivity
PTC Thingworx Kepware Edge<1.4
PTC ThingWorx Kepware Server<6.12
rockwellautomation Kepserver Enterprise<6.12
Softwaretoolbox Top Server<6.12

Event History

Mar 29, 2023
CVE Published
via MITRE·12:00 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·12:00 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Mar 25, 2025
Advisory Published
via ZDI·11:01 AM

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is CVE-2022-2848?

CVE-2022-2848 is a vulnerability that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Kepware KEPServerEX 6.11.718.0.

2

How severe is CVE-2022-2848?

CVE-2022-2848 has a severity rating of 9.1 (critical).

3

Is authentication required to exploit CVE-2022-2848?

No, authentication is not required to exploit CVE-2022-2848.

4

What is the specific flaw in CVE-2022-2848?

The specific flaw in CVE-2022-2848 exists within the handling of text encoding conversions.

5

How can I fix CVE-2022-2848?

To fix CVE-2022-2848, it is recommended to update Kepware KEPServerEX to a version that is not affected by the vulnerability.

Contact

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