CVE-2023-25910 Overview
A code injection vulnerability has been identified in multiple Siemens SIMATIC products affecting their embedded database management system. The vulnerability allows remote users with low privileges to leverage embedded database functions to execute code with elevated privileges on the database management system's server. This affects industrial automation software commonly used in critical infrastructure environments.
Critical Impact
Remote attackers with network access and low privileges can exploit embedded database functions to achieve code execution with elevated privileges, potentially compromising industrial control systems.
Affected Products
- Siemens SIMATIC PCS 7 (All versions < V9.1 SP2 UC04)
- Siemens SIMATIC S7-PM (All versions < V5.7 SP1 HF1, All versions < V5.7 SP2 HF1)
- Siemens SIMATIC STEP 7 V5 (All versions < V5.7)
Discovery Timeline
- June 13, 2023 - CVE-2023-25910 published to NVD
- November 21, 2024 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2023-25910
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified as CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code - Code Injection). The affected Siemens SIMATIC products contain a database management system with embedded functions that can be accessed by remote users possessing low-privilege credentials. These embedded functions can be invoked either locally or through a network share, and they execute with elevated privileges within the database server context.
The attack requires network access to the server and only low-level authentication, making it accessible to any user with basic credentials on the target network. The vulnerability enables complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.
Root Cause
The root cause lies in the improper access control implementation for embedded database functions within the SIMATIC database management system. The embedded functions execute with elevated privileges regardless of the calling user's privilege level, and no adequate validation is performed to restrict low-privilege users from invoking these sensitive functions. This design flaw allows privilege escalation through the database layer.
Attack Vector
The attack is network-based and requires an authenticated session with minimal privileges. An attacker with network access to the server hosting the affected SIMATIC software can connect to the database management system and invoke embedded functions designed for administrative purposes. These functions, accessible from local connections or through network shares, execute with the database server's elevated privileges rather than the caller's restricted permissions.
The exploitation mechanism involves:
- Establishing a network connection to the vulnerable SIMATIC database server
- Authenticating with low-privilege credentials
- Invoking embedded database functions that lack proper privilege validation
- Achieving code execution in the context of the elevated database server process
For detailed technical information, refer to the Siemens Security Advisory SSA-968170.
Detection Methods for CVE-2023-25910
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected database connections from unauthorized network segments or IP addresses
- Unusual execution of embedded database functions by low-privilege accounts
- Database server processes spawning unexpected child processes or executing system commands
- Anomalous network traffic patterns to/from SIMATIC database server ports
Detection Strategies
- Monitor authentication logs for database connections from accounts with minimal privileges accessing administrative functions
- Implement network traffic analysis to detect unusual database protocol communications
- Deploy endpoint detection to identify unexpected process creation from database server executables
- Configure database auditing to log all embedded function invocations and correlate with user privilege levels
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable comprehensive logging on SIMATIC database servers and forward to centralized SIEM
- Establish baseline behavior for database function usage and alert on deviations
- Monitor for lateral movement attempts following potential database server compromise
- Implement network segmentation monitoring to detect unauthorized access to OT/ICS networks
How to Mitigate CVE-2023-25910
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade SIMATIC PCS 7 to version V9.1 SP2 UC04 or later
- Upgrade SIMATIC S7-PM to version V5.7 SP1 HF1 or V5.7 SP2 HF1 or later
- Upgrade SIMATIC STEP 7 V5 to version V5.7 or later
- Restrict network access to affected systems to trusted hosts and networks only
- Review and minimize user accounts with access to the database management system
Patch Information
Siemens has released security patches addressing this vulnerability. Detailed patch information and download links are available in the Siemens Security Advisory SSA-968170 PDF. Organizations should prioritize patching based on the criticality of the affected systems in their industrial control environment.
Workarounds
- Implement strict network segmentation to isolate SIMATIC systems from untrusted networks
- Apply firewall rules to restrict database server access to only necessary administrative hosts
- Review and remove unnecessary user accounts with database access privileges
- Deploy application-level firewalls or database activity monitoring solutions to detect and block malicious function calls
# Network segmentation example - restrict database server access
# Add firewall rules to limit connections to trusted management hosts only
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 1433 -s 10.10.10.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 1433 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
