CVE-2024-38501: Pepperl-fuchs ICDM-RX/TCP XSS Vulnerability

CVE-2024-38501 Overview

CVE-2024-38501 is an HTML injection vulnerability affecting multiple Pepperl+Fuchs ICDM-RX serial-to-Ethernet device server firmware families. An unauthenticated remote attacker can inject malicious HTML content of limited length into the web management interface. Successful exploitation requires user interaction and yields low-privileged access on the affected device. The flaw is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. Affected products span the ICDM-RX/TCP, ICDM-RX/PN, ICDM-RX/MOD, and ICDM-RX/EN industrial gateway lines running SocketServer, PROFINET, Modbus, and EtherNet/IP firmware variants. VDE CERT coordinated disclosure under advisory VDE-2024-033.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote HTML injection can allow attackers to trick operators of industrial serial gateways into performing actions that grant low-privileged access to safety-relevant OT infrastructure.

Affected Products

Pepperl+Fuchs ICDM-RX/TCP SocketServer firmware and associated hardware variants (ICDM-RX/TCP-DB9/RJ45-DIN, ICDM-RX/TCP-16RJ45/RJ45-RM, and related SKUs)
Pepperl+Fuchs ICDM-RX/PN and ICDM-RX/PN1 PROFINET and PROFINET/Modbus firmware families
Pepperl+Fuchs ICDM-RX/MOD Modbus Router, Modbus Server, and Modbus TCP firmware, plus ICDM-RX/EN and ICDM-RX/EN1 EtherNet/IP and EIP/Modbus firmware

Discovery Timeline

2024-08-13 - CVE-2024-38501 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-38501

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the embedded web management interface of Pepperl+Fuchs ICDM-RX serial device servers. The interface fails to properly neutralize user-controlled input before rendering it inside HTML responses. An attacker can craft a request containing HTML markup that the server subsequently reflects to a browsing user. Because the payload length is constrained, the injection is limited in scope but still sufficient to alter page structure, present deceptive interface elements, or coerce authenticated operators into performing unintended actions. The result is that a remote attacker without credentials can obtain low-privileged access on the affected device once a legitimate user interacts with the injected content.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper output encoding of user-supplied data in the device's HTTP responses, corresponding to CWE-79. The firmware embeds attacker-controlled strings directly into HTML without contextual escaping. This allows arbitrary tags and attributes to render within the trusted origin of the management interface.

Attack Vector

Exploitation occurs over the network and requires no authentication, but does require user interaction, typically an operator clicking a crafted link or visiting a page that triggers a request to the vulnerable endpoint. The scope is changed because injected content executes in the browser context of the management UI, allowing the attacker to influence resources beyond the vulnerable component itself. The vulnerability yields limited confidentiality and integrity impact with no direct availability effect.

No public proof-of-concept exploit code has been released. Consult the VDE Security Advisory VDE-2024-033 for vendor-supplied technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-38501

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to ICDM-RX web management endpoints containing HTML control characters such as <, >, ", or encoded equivalents (%3C, %3E) in query strings or POST bodies
Referer headers pointing to external domains preceding administrative actions on ICDM-RX interfaces
Unexpected configuration changes or session activity from operator workstations shortly after receiving unsolicited links referencing the device management IP

Detection Strategies

Enable deep packet inspection on OT network segments to flag HTTP requests toward ICDM-RX devices that carry HTML or script tokens in parameters
Correlate authentication and configuration-change events on the device with browser telemetry from operator hosts to identify user-interaction-driven exploitation
Deploy web application firewall rules or IDS signatures that inspect HTTP traffic to the device management port for reflected input containing tag characters

Monitoring Recommendations

Continuously monitor OT-DMZ north-south traffic destined for ICDM-RX management interfaces and alert on anomalous request patterns
Log all administrative sessions on ICDM-RX devices and forward the logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation with endpoint browser activity
Track firmware versions across the ICDM-RX fleet to ensure detection coverage tracks the vulnerable inventory

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-38501

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network reachability to ICDM-RX management interfaces so only jump hosts on trusted OT administration VLANs can access them
Instruct operators not to click external links that reference internal ICDM-RX device addresses and to access the management UI only via bookmarked URLs
Inventory all ICDM-RX/TCP, ICDM-RX/PN, ICDM-RX/MOD, and ICDM-RX/EN devices and cross-reference running firmware against the versions listed in advisory VDE-2024-033

Patch Information

Pepperl+Fuchs and VDE CERT published coordinated remediation guidance in VDE Security Advisory VDE-2024-033. Apply the firmware updates specified in that advisory for each affected ICDM-RX product family. Because these are industrial gateways, plan maintenance windows and validate updated firmware against process requirements before deploying broadly.

Workarounds

Place ICDM-RX devices behind a segmentation firewall that enforces allow-listed source addresses for HTTP(S) access to the management interface
Disable the web management interface where operational workflows permit and manage devices via out-of-band tooling instead
Terminate active browser sessions on operator workstations after administrative tasks are complete to limit the window for user-interaction-driven exploitation