CVE-2022-45140
Published: 27 February 2023
Summary
CVE-2022-45140 is a critical-severity Missing Authentication for Critical Function (CWE-306) vulnerability in Wago 751-9301 Firmware. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).
Operationally, ranked in the top 8.9% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Deeper analysis
The vulnerability tracked as CVE-2022-45140 affects the configuration backend component and stems from missing authentication for a critical function (CWE-306). An unauthenticated remote actor can write arbitrary data with root privileges directly to storage, producing a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8 and enabling unauthenticated remote code execution that results in full system compromise.
Because the flaw requires no credentials or user interaction, any network-reachable attacker can exploit it to obtain complete control over the affected system. The EPSS score has remained flat at 0.0626 with no material increase after disclosure.
Public advisories addressing the issue are published by VDE at https://cert.vde.com/en/advisories/VDE-2022-060/.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2022-48055
Vulnerability details
The configuration backend allows an unauthenticated user to write arbitrary data with root privileges to the storage, which could lead to unauthenticated remote code execution and full system compromise.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Requires established identification and authentication to unlock, mitigating missing authentication for continued system access.
Requiring identification and rationale for actions allowed without authentication ensures critical functions are not left unprotected by forcing review of authentication requirements.
Authorizing mobile device connections to organizational systems ensures authentication is performed for this critical access function.
Guarantees critical functions are protected by mandatory invocation of the access control mechanism.
Auditing sessions makes it possible to detect access to critical functions without required authentication.
The assessment process confirms authentication is present and effective for critical functions, preventing exploitation from missing authentication.
Certification assesses that critical functions have required authentication controls in place.
Disabling non-essential functions and services eliminates the need to secure them, reducing exposure from missing authentication on unnecessary components.