---
title: "Critical Path Traversal Flaw in Hitachi Energy PCM600 Threatens Energy Sector"
short_title: "Critical flaw in Hitachi Energy PCM600 risks energy sector"
description: "Hitachi Energy warns of a critical path traversal vulnerability in PCM600 products. Learn about affected versions, risks, and mitigation steps to secure systems."
author: "Vitus"
date: 2024-10-02
categories: [Cybersecurity, Vulnerabilities]
tags: [hitachi-energy, pcm600, cve-2018-1002208, path-traversal, energy-sector]
score: 0.78
cve_ids: [CVE-2018-1002208]
---
## TL;DR
Hitachi Energy has disclosed a critical path traversal vulnerability (CVE-2018-1002208) in its PCM600 product, affecting multiple versions. Successful exploitation could compromise system integrity, posing risks to global energy infrastructure. Users are urged to migrate to updated versions and follow recommended security practices to mitigate risks.
Main Content
### Introduction
The energy sector, a cornerstone of critical infrastructure, faces a growing threat from cyber vulnerabilities. Hitachi Energy has issued an advisory highlighting a critical path traversal flaw in its PCM600 product, a widely used solution for power system management. This vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2018-1002208, could allow attackers to write arbitrary files to affected systems, potentially leading to unauthorized access and system compromise. Given the global deployment of PCM600, this flaw demands immediate attention from organizations relying on this technology.
### Key Points
- Vulnerability Identified: A path traversal flaw (CVE-2018-1002208) affects multiple versions of Hitachi Energy’s PCM600 product.
- Impact: Successful exploitation could compromise system integrity, enabling attackers to write arbitrary files.
- Affected Versions: PCM600 Legacy (≤2.11) and versions 3.0 to 3.1 SP3.
- Mitigation: Hitachi Energy recommends migrating to PCM600 3.1 SP4 and following cybersecurity best practices.
- Critical Infrastructure at Risk: The vulnerability poses a significant threat to the energy sector, with global implications.
### Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from SharpZipLib, a third-party library used in PCM600, which is vulnerable to a Zip-Slip attack. This flaw allows attackers to craft malicious Zip archives containing directory traversal sequences (e.g., ../). When extracted, these archives can overwrite arbitrary files on the system, leading to potential code execution or system compromise.
#### Vulnerability Breakdown
- CVE ID: CVE-2018-1002208
- CVSS Score: 4.4 (Medium Severity)
- Vector String: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
- CWE: CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
#### Affected Products
| Product | Affected Versions |
|---------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| PCM600 Legacy | ≤2.11 |
| PCM600 3.x | 3.0, 3.0_HF1, 3.0_HF2, 3.0_HF3, 3.1, 3.1_SP1, 3.1_SP2, 3.1_SP3 |
### Impact Assessment
The vulnerability poses a moderate to high risk to organizations in the energy sector. While the CVSS score of 4.4 indicates medium severity, the potential impact on critical infrastructure elevates its significance. Key risks include:
- Unauthorized File Modifications: Attackers could overwrite critical system files, leading to service disruption or data corruption.
- System Compromise: In worst-case scenarios, the flaw could enable remote code execution, granting attackers control over affected systems.
- Global Deployment: With PCM600 deployed worldwide, the vulnerability could have far-reaching consequences for energy providers.
### Mitigation Steps
Hitachi Energy has outlined several measures to mitigate the risk posed by this vulnerability:
#### Immediate Actions
1. Migrate to Updated Versions: Users are strongly advised to upgrade to PCM600 3.1 SP4, which addresses the vulnerability.
2. Follow Deployment Guidelines: Adhere to the PCM600 3.1 Cyber Security Deployment Guideline to ensure secure configuration.
3. Avoid Default Credentials: Ensure no default credentials are in use, and apply adequate countermeasures for exceptions.
4. Isolate Systems: Restrict network access to PCM600 systems, ensuring they are not exposed to the internet or untrusted networks.
#### Long-Term Recommendations
- Regular Updates: Maintain systems with the latest patches and updates.
- Network Segmentation: Isolate control systems from business networks using firewalls and VPNs.
- Monitoring and Auditing: Implement continuous monitoring to detect and respond to suspicious activity.
### Affected Systems
The vulnerability impacts organizations using the following Hitachi Energy PCM600 versions:
- Legacy Versions: PCM600 ≤2.11 (distributed under ABB)
- 3.x Versions: 3.0, 3.0_HF1, 3.0_HF2, 3.0_HF3, 3.1, 3.1_SP1, 3.1_SP2, 3.1_SP3
## Conclusion
The discovery of CVE-2018-1002208 in Hitachi Energy’s PCM600 product underscores the ongoing cybersecurity challenges faced by the energy sector. While the vulnerability is classified as medium severity, its potential impact on critical infrastructure cannot be underestimated. Organizations must act swiftly to migrate to updated versions, implement recommended security practices, and ensure robust network defenses. Proactive measures are essential to safeguarding energy systems against evolving cyber threats.
For further details, refer to Hitachi Energy’s official advisory and the CISA advisory.
## References
[^1]: Hitachi Energy. "PCM600 Cybersecurity Advisory". Retrieved 2024-10-02.
[^2]: CISA. "ICS Advisory ICSA-26-125-01". Retrieved 2024-10-02.
[^3]: MITRE. "CVE-2018-1002208 Detail". Retrieved 2024-10-02.
[^4]: Hitachi Energy. "Industrial Control Systems Best Practices". Retrieved 2024-10-02.