Trane Tracer SC Sensitive Information Exposure Vulnerability

OVERVIEW

Independent researcher Maxim Rupp has identified an information exposure vulnerability in Trane U.S. Inc.’s Tracer SC field panel. Trane U.S. Inc. has produced an update to mitigate this vulnerability. Maxim Rupp has tested the update to validate that it resolves the vulnerability.

This vulnerability could be exploited remotely.

AFFECTED PRODUCTS

The following Tracer SC versions are affected:

• Versions 4.2.1134 and below.

IMPACT

This vulnerability allows an unauthorized party to obtain sensitive information from the contents of configuration files not protected by the web server.

Impact to individual organizations depends on many factors that are unique to each organization. NCCIC/ICS-CERT recommends that organizations evaluate the impact of this vulnerability based on their operational environment, architecture, and product implementation.

BACKGROUND

Trane is a U.S.-based company that maintains offices throughout the U.S. It is a subsidiary of Ingersoll Rand.

The affected product, Tracer SC, is an intelligent field panel for communicating with HVAC equipment controllers. According to Trane U.S. Inc., Tracer SC is deployed across several sectors including Commercial Facilities and others. Trane U.S. Inc. estimates that these products are used primarily in the United States and Europe with a small percentage in Asia.

VULNERABILITY CHARACTERIZATION

VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW

VULNERABILITY DETAILS

EXPLOITABILITY

This vulnerability could be exploited remotely.

EXISTENCE OF EXPLOIT

No known public exploits specifically target this vulnerability.

DIFFICULTY

An attacker with a low skill would be able to exploit this vulnerability.

MITIGATION

Trane U.S. Inc. has produced an update for the Tracer SC.

It is recommended that users contact their local Trane office for information on how to obtain this update. Please reference Trane service database number HUB-120517 when calling the local Trane office.

If users need assistance locating their local Trane office, please click: http://www.trane.com/commercial/north-america/us/en.html

ICS-CERT recommends updating the software/firmware to resolve the vulnerabilities in a timely fashion. Devices connected to public networks (including the Internet) should be reviewed for any sensitive and/or personal information. A risk/benefit-based decision should be made as to the information stored on devices in these public environments.

ICS-CERT recommends that users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of these vulnerabilities. Specifically, users should:

• Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and/or systems, and ensure that they are not accessible from the Internet.
• Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls, and isolate them from the business network.
• 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.

ICS-CERT reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures.

ICS-CERT also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS-CERT web page at: http://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/content/recommended-practices. 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 in the ICS‑CERT Technical Information Paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B--Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies, that is available for download from the ICS-CERT web site (http://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/).

Organizations observing any suspected malicious activity should follow their established internal procedures and report their findings to ICS-CERT for tracking and correlation against other incidents.