CVE-2021-40363 Vulnerability Analysis & Exploit Details

CVE-2021-40363
Vulnerability Scoring

7.8
/10
Very High Risk

Highly exploitable, CVE-2021-40363 poses a critical security risk that could lead to severe breaches.

Attack Complexity Details

  • Attack Complexity: Low
    Exploits can be performed without significant complexity or special conditions.
  • Attack Vector: Local
    Vulnerability requires local system access.
  • Privileges Required: Low
    Some privileges are necessary to exploit the vulnerability.
  • Scope: Unchanged
    Exploit remains within the originally vulnerable component.
  • User Interaction: None
    No user interaction is necessary for exploitation.

CVE-2021-40363 Details

Status: Modified

Last updated: 🕕 21 Nov 2024, 06:23 UTC
Originally published on: 🕓 09 Feb 2022, 16:15 UTC

Time between publication and last update: 1015 days

CVSS Release: version 3

CVSS3 Source

nvd@nist.gov

CVSS3 Type

Primary

CVSS3 Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVE-2021-40363 Vulnerability Summary

CVE-2021-40363: A vulnerability has been identified in SIMATIC PCS 7 V8.2 (All versions), SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.0 (All versions), SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.1 (All versions < V9.1 SP1), SIMATIC WinCC V15 and earlier (All versions < V15 SP1 Update 7), SIMATIC WinCC V16 (All versions < V16 Update 5), SIMATIC WinCC V17 (All versions < V17 Update 2), SIMATIC WinCC V17 (All versions <= V17 Update 4), SIMATIC WinCC V7.4 (All versions < V7.4 SP1 Update 19), SIMATIC WinCC V7.5 (All versions < V7.5 SP2 Update 6). The affected component stores the credentials of a local system account in a potentially publicly accessible project file using an outdated cipher algorithm. An attacker may use this to brute force the credentials and take over the system.

Assessing the Risk of CVE-2021-40363

Access Complexity Graph

The exploitability of CVE-2021-40363 depends on two key factors: attack complexity (the level of effort required to execute an exploit) and privileges required (the access level an attacker needs).

Exploitability Analysis for CVE-2021-40363

CVE-2021-40363 presents an accessible attack vector with minimal effort required. Restricting access controls and implementing security updates are critical to reducing exploitation risks.

Understanding AC and PR

A lower complexity and fewer privilege requirements make exploitation easier. Security teams should evaluate these aspects to determine the urgency of mitigation strategies, such as patch management and access control policies.

Attack Complexity (AC) measures the difficulty in executing an exploit. A high AC means that specific conditions must be met, making an attack more challenging, while a low AC means the vulnerability can be exploited with minimal effort.

Privileges Required (PR) determine the level of system access necessary for an attack. Vulnerabilities requiring no privileges are more accessible to attackers, whereas high privilege requirements limit exploitation to authorized users with elevated access.

CVSS Score Breakdown Chart

Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2021-40363, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.

CIA Impact Analysis

Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2021-40363, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.

  • Confidentiality: High
    Exploiting CVE-2021-40363 can result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, severely compromising data privacy.
  • Integrity: High
    CVE-2021-40363 could allow unauthorized modifications to data, potentially affecting system reliability and trust.
  • Availability: High
    CVE-2021-40363 can disrupt system operations, potentially causing complete denial of service (DoS).

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

The EPSS score estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the near future.

EPSS Score: 0.044% (probability of exploit)

EPSS Percentile: 15.33% (lower percentile = lower relative risk)
This vulnerability is less risky than approximately 84.67% of others.

CVE-2021-40363 References

External References

CWE Common Weakness Enumeration

CWE-312

CAPEC Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification

  • Retrieve Embedded Sensitive Data CAPEC-37 An attacker examines a target system to find sensitive data that has been embedded within it. This information can reveal confidential contents, such as account numbers or individual keys/credentials that can be used as an intermediate step in a larger attack.

Vulnerable Configurations

  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:7.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:7.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:7.0:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:7.0:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:7.1:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:7.1:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:8.1:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:8.1:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:8.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:8.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:9.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:9.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:9.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_pcs_7:9.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.2:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.2:upd_14:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.2:upd_14:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:upd_15:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:upd_15:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:update13:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:update13:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:update_1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:update_1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:update_10:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:update_10:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:update_11:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:update_11:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:update_13:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:update_13:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:update_4:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.3:update_4:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update10:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update10:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update11:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update11:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update12:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update12:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update13:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update13:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update14:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update14:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update15:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update15:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update16:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update16:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update17:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update17:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update18:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update18:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update2:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update2:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update3:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update3:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update4:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update4:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update5:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update5:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update6:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update6:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update7:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update7:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update8:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update8:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update9:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:sp1_update9:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:update_1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.4:update_1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp1_update1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp1_update1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp1_update2:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp1_update2:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp2_update1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp2_update1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp2_update2:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp2_update2:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp2_update3:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp2_update3:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp2_update4:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp2_update4:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp2_update5:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:7.5:sp2_update5:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:13:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:13:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:13:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:13:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:13:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:13:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:14.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:14.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:15.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:15.1:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:15.1:update_1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:15.1:update_1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:15.1:update_2:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:15.1:update_2:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:15.1:update_3:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:15.1:update_3:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:15.1:update_4:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:15.1:update_4:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:15.1:update_5:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:15.1:update_5:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:15.1:update_6:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:15.1:update_6:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:16:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:16:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:16:update1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:16:update1:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:16:update2:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:16:update2:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:16:update3:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:16:update3:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:16:update4:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:16:update4:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:17:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:17:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:17:update1:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:siemens:simatic_wincc:17:update1:*:*:*:*:*:*

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