CVE-2024-23795: Siemens Tecnomatix Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2024-23795 Overview

CVE-2024-23795 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in Siemens Tecnomatix Plant Simulation. The flaw resides in the WRL (VRML) file parser and allows an attacker to write past the end of an allocated buffer. Successful exploitation lets an attacker execute code in the context of the current process. Exploitation requires a user to open a specially crafted WRL file, making phishing and supply chain delivery the most likely delivery vectors. Siemens tracks the issue in advisory SSA-017796 and has released fixed builds.

Critical Impact
An attacker who convinces an engineer to open a malicious WRL file can achieve arbitrary code execution on the workstation running Tecnomatix Plant Simulation.

Affected Products

Siemens Tecnomatix Plant Simulation V2201 (all versions before V2201.0012)
Siemens Tecnomatix Plant Simulation V2302 (all versions before V2302.0006)
Engineering workstations running vulnerable Tecnomatix builds

Discovery Timeline

2024-02-13 - CVE-2024-23795 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-23795

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds write [CWE-787] triggered while parsing WRL files. WRL is the file extension for Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) scene data, which Tecnomatix Plant Simulation imports to render 3D models of production environments. The parser fails to validate the size of attacker-controlled data against the destination buffer allocated on the heap or stack. Writing past the buffer boundary corrupts adjacent memory structures. An attacker can shape the overflow to overwrite function pointers, virtual table entries, or return addresses. This yields arbitrary code execution in the security context of the user running the simulation software.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient bounds checking during deserialization of a WRL node or field. The parser trusts length or count values embedded in the file and copies data into a fixed-size destination without validating that the source fits.

Attack Vector

Exploitation is local and requires user interaction. The victim must open a malicious .wrl file inside Tecnomatix Plant Simulation. Delivery methods include phishing with WRL attachments, poisoned model libraries, or malicious files placed on shared engineering drives. No authentication or elevated privileges are required by the attacker.

No public proof-of-concept exploit code is available for CVE-2024-23795. See the Siemens Security Advisory SSA-017796 for vendor technical detail.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-23795

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected .wrl files arriving via email, chat, or shared drives targeting engineering staff.
Child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or script hosts spawned by the Tecnomatix Plant Simulation executable.
Crash dumps or Windows Error Reporting entries referencing the Tecnomatix process after opening a WRL file.
Outbound network connections from the Tecnomatix process to non-Siemens infrastructure.

Detection Strategies

Alert on Tecnomatix Plant Simulation spawning any interactive shell, script interpreter, or LOLBin.
Hunt for WRL files written to user download or temp directories immediately before a Tecnomatix process crash.
Correlate memory access violations in the Tecnomatix process with recent file-open telemetry.

Monitoring Recommendations

Log process creation with full command lines on all engineering workstations running Tecnomatix.
Collect application crash telemetry and forward it to a central data lake for correlation.
Monitor email and file-share gateways for inbound .wrl attachments from untrusted senders.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-23795

Immediate Actions Required

Update Tecnomatix Plant Simulation V2201 to V2201.0012 or later.
Update Tecnomatix Plant Simulation V2302 to V2302.0006 or later.
Instruct engineers not to open WRL files received from untrusted or unexpected sources.
Inventory all endpoints running Tecnomatix Plant Simulation and confirm patch status.

Patch Information

Siemens has released fixed versions V2201.0012 and V2302.0006 that address the out-of-bounds write in the WRL parser. Details and download links are published in Siemens Security Advisory SSA-017796.

Workarounds

Restrict opening of WRL files to trusted, internally produced content only.
Block .wrl attachments at email gateways where 3D model exchange is not a business requirement.
Apply application allowlisting to prevent Tecnomatix from spawning shells or scripting engines.
Segment engineering workstations from general corporate networks to limit lateral movement after compromise.

bash

# Verify installed Tecnomatix Plant Simulation version on Windows
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Siemens\Tecnomatix Plant Simulation" /s | findstr /i version