CVE-2024-9414: LAquis SCADA XSS Vulnerability

CVE-2024-9414 Overview

CVE-2024-9414 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting LAquis SCADA version 4.7.1.511. The flaw allows an attacker to inject arbitrary script content into a web page rendered by the SCADA application. Successful exploitation can lead to cookie theft, user redirection, or unauthorized actions executed in the context of an authenticated session. The weakness is tracked under CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation). The vulnerability is documented in CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-24-291-02. Because LAquis SCADA is deployed in industrial control environments, the impact extends to operator workstations that may interface with critical processes.

Critical Impact
Attackers can execute arbitrary JavaScript in the operator's browser session, enabling session hijacking and unauthorized SCADA actions through user interaction with a crafted resource.

Affected Products

LAquis SCADA version 4.7.1.511
Earlier LAquis SCADA builds that share the vulnerable web rendering component
Industrial control deployments referenced in CISA advisory ICSA-24-291-02

Discovery Timeline

2024-10-17 - CVE-2024-9414 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-9414

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a stored or reflected cross-site scripting flaw in the web-facing component of LAquis SCADA. The application fails to neutralize user-supplied input before incorporating it into HTML responses. When a victim renders the affected page, the injected payload executes within the browser context of the SCADA web interface. This grants the attacker the same privileges as the authenticated operator. In SCADA environments, this can translate to manipulation of supervisory data, fraudulent control commands issued via the web UI, or theft of session identifiers used to access historian and alarm services.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of input during web page generation, classified as [CWE-79]. Input fields or parameters consumed by the LAquis web interface are written into the response document without context-appropriate encoding. HTML, attribute, and JavaScript contexts each require distinct encoding routines, and the application does not apply them consistently. As a result, characters such as <, >, ", and ' break out of their intended data context and become executable script.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker crafts a malicious URL or content payload containing JavaScript. The operator must visit the link or load the tainted page within an authenticated session. The CISA advisory describes confidentiality as the primary impacted property, consistent with session and credential theft. See CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-24-291-02 for additional technical context on the affected component and exposure conditions.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-9414

Indicators of Compromise

Web access logs containing URL parameters with HTML or script delimiters such as <script, onerror=, or javascript:
Outbound connections from operator workstations to attacker-controlled hosts shortly after web UI access
Unexpected session token reuse from non-operator IP ranges
Browser console errors or page rendering anomalies reported by SCADA operators

Detection Strategies

Inspect HTTP traffic to the LAquis SCADA web interface for encoded XSS payloads in query strings, form fields, and referer headers
Deploy content security policy (CSP) violation reporting to flag unauthorized inline script execution
Correlate operator workstation process telemetry with browser activity to detect script-driven data exfiltration

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward web server and proxy logs to a centralized analytics platform for pattern matching against XSS signatures
Alert on anomalous outbound DNS or HTTP requests originating from SCADA operator endpoints
Track authentication events for session reuse across multiple source addresses within short time windows

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-9414

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict access to the LAquis SCADA web interface to trusted operator subnets only
Instruct operators to avoid clicking external links while authenticated to the SCADA console
Apply vendor-supplied patches once a fixed version of LAquis SCADA is released
Review and rotate any session credentials used on the affected version

Patch Information

Refer to the vendor and the CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-24-291-02 for current remediation guidance and patch availability for LAquis SCADA 4.7.1.511. Upgrade to the fixed release published by the vendor as soon as it is validated for the deployment environment.

Workarounds

Place the SCADA web interface behind a reverse proxy that strips or encodes suspicious characters in request parameters
Enforce a strict Content-Security-Policy header that disallows inline scripts and untrusted script sources
Segment operator workstations from general corporate networks per ISA/IEC 62443 zone and conduit guidance
Disable browser features such as third-party cookies and cross-origin script execution on SCADA operator endpoints

bash

# Example reverse proxy hardening (nginx) to add CSP and basic header controls
add_header Content-Security-Policy "default-src 'self'; script-src 'self'; object-src 'none'; frame-ancestors 'none'" always;
add_header X-XSS-Protection "1; mode=block" always;
add_header X-Content-Type-Options "nosniff" always;
add_header Referrer-Policy "no-referrer" always;