CVE-2020-37143 Overview
CVE-2020-37143 is a denial of service vulnerability affecting ProficySCADA for iOS version 5.0.25920. The vulnerability allows attackers to crash the application by manipulating the password input field. By overwriting the password field with 257 bytes of repeated characters, an attacker can trigger an application crash and prevent successful authentication, effectively denying legitimate users access to the SCADA monitoring interface.
Critical Impact
Attackers can crash the ProficySCADA mobile application through input manipulation, preventing operators from authenticating and accessing critical industrial control system monitoring capabilities.
Affected Products
- ProficySCADA for iOS version 5.0.25920
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-02-05 - CVE CVE-2020-37143 published to NVD
- 2026-02-05 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2020-37143
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability falls under CWE-770 (Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling), indicating that the application fails to properly validate or limit the size of input provided to the password field. The local attack vector requires user interaction, meaning an attacker would need some level of access to the device or convince a user to input malicious data.
The vulnerability specifically manifests when the password input field receives more data than it can properly handle. The application does not implement proper boundary checks on the password field, allowing input that exceeds expected limits to cause unstable behavior.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation in the password field handling mechanism. The application allocates resources for the password field without implementing adequate size limits or boundary checks. When 257 bytes of repeated characters are submitted, the application fails to properly handle this oversized input, resulting in resource exhaustion or memory corruption that causes the application to crash.
This represents a failure to implement defensive programming practices for input handling, particularly around authentication fields that should have strict validation requirements.
Attack Vector
The attack requires local access to the device running the ProficySCADA iOS application. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by navigating to the login screen and entering 257 bytes of repeated characters (such as "A" repeated 257 times) into the password field. Upon submission or processing of this input, the application crashes.
The exploitation is straightforward and does not require authentication, as the vulnerability exists in the pre-authentication login screen. While the attack requires user interaction in the form of accessing the application, the actual exploit payload is simple to deliver. Technical details regarding the specific exploitation technique can be found in the Exploit-DB #48236 entry.
Detection Methods for CVE-2020-37143
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected application crashes during login attempts on ProficySCADA for iOS
- Application crash logs showing memory-related errors or exceptions during authentication
- Users reporting inability to authenticate due to repeated application terminations
- Abnormally long strings present in password field input logs
Detection Strategies
- Monitor iOS application crash reports for ProficySCADA instances with authentication-related stack traces
- Implement endpoint monitoring to detect unusual input patterns in iOS applications
- Review device logs for repeated application restarts within short time periods
- Deploy mobile application monitoring solutions to track application stability metrics
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable crash reporting and analytics for ProficySCADA iOS deployments
- Configure alerts for application instability patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts
- Monitor for repeated failed authentication attempts followed by application crashes
- Track application availability metrics to identify potential denial of service conditions
How to Mitigate CVE-2020-37143
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict physical access to devices running ProficySCADA for iOS 5.0.25920
- Implement mobile device management (MDM) policies to control application access
- Consider temporarily disabling the iOS application if critical monitoring can be performed through alternative means
- Review and apply any available vendor patches or updates for ProficySCADA for iOS
Patch Information
Organizations should review the VulnCheck Advisory for the latest information regarding patches and vendor updates. Check the CNET Software Overview page for updated application versions that may address this vulnerability.
If no patch is available, organizations should assess the risk of continued use and implement compensating controls to reduce exposure.
Workarounds
- Limit access to the ProficySCADA iOS application to trusted users and managed devices only
- Implement network-level controls to restrict application communication to known, secure networks
- Deploy alternative SCADA monitoring solutions until a patch is available
- Consider using web-based or desktop alternatives for SCADA monitoring that are not affected by this vulnerability
- Enforce MDM policies to prevent unauthorized application installation and use
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
