Siemens SIMATIC SCADA and PCS 7 Systems

As of January 10, 2023, CISA will no longer be updating ICS security advisories for Siemens product vulnerabilities beyond the initial advisory. For the most up-to-date information on vulnerabilities in this advisory, please see Siemens' ProductCERT Security Advisories (CERT Services | Services | Siemens Global). 

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1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• CVSS v4 9.4
• ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely/low attack complexity
• Vendor: Siemens
• Equipment: SIMATIC SCADA and PCS 7 Systems
• Vulnerability: Execution with Unnecessary Privileges

2. RISK EVALUATION

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary code with high privileges.

3. TECHNICAL DETAILS

3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS

The following Siemens products are affected:

• SIMATIC BATCH V9.1: All versions
• SIMATIC Information Server 2020: All versions
• SIMATIC Information Server 2022: All versions
• SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.1: All versions
• SIMATIC Process Historian 2020: All versions
• SIMATIC Process Historian 2022: All versions
• SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional V18: All versions
• SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional V19: All versions
• SIMATIC WinCC V7.4: All versions
• SIMATIC WinCC V7.5: All versions prior to V7.5 SP2 Update 18
• SIMATIC WinCC V8.0: All versions prior to V8.0 Update 5

3.2 Vulnerability Overview

3.2.1 EXECUTION WITH UNNECESSARY PRIVILEGES CWE-250

The affected products run their DB server with elevated privileges which could allow an authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary OS commands with administrative privileges.

CVE-2024-35783 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 9.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2024-35783. A base score of 9.4 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H).

3.3 BACKGROUND

• CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Chemical, Energy, Food and Agriculture, and Water and Wastewater Systems
• COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide
• COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: Germany

3.4 RESEARCHER

Tim Dijkman from Powerspex reported this vulnerability to Siemens. Siemens reported this vulnerability to CISA.

4. MITIGATIONS

Siemens has identified the following specific workarounds and mitigations users can apply to reduce risk:

• SIMATIC WinCC V7.5: Update to V7.5 SP2 Update 18 or later version
• SIMATIC WinCC V8.0: Update to V8.0 Update 5 or later version
• SIMATIC PCS 7: Update WinCC to V7.5 SP2 Update 18 or later version
• SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.1: Update WinCC to V7.5 SP2 Update 18 or later version

As a general security measure, Siemens recommends protecting network access to devices with appropriate mechanisms. To operate the devices in a protected IT environment, Siemens recommends configuring the environment according to Siemens' operational guidelines for industrial security and following recommendations in the product manuals.

Additional information on industrial security by Siemens can be found on the Siemens industrial security webpage

For more information see the associated Siemens security advisory SSA-629254 in HTML and CSAF.

CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of this vulnerability, such as:

• Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and/or systems, ensuring they are not accessible from the internet.
• Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls and isolating them from business networks.
• When remote access is required, use more secure methods, such as virtual private networks (VPNs). Recognize VPNs may have vulnerabilities, should be updated to the most recent version available, and are only as secure as the connected devices.

CISA reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures.

CISA also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS webpage on cisa.gov. Several CISA products detailing cyber defense best practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies.

CISA encourages organizations to implement recommended cybersecurity strategies for proactive defense of ICS assets.

Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available on the ICS webpage at cisa.gov in the technical information paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B--Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies.

Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.

No known public exploitation specifically targeting this vulnerability has been reported to CISA at this time.

5. UPDATE HISTORY

• September 12, 2024: Initial Publication

• Siemens