CVE-2024-34773: Siemens Solid Edge Buffer Overflow Flaw

CVE-2024-34773 Overview

CVE-2024-34773 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Siemens Solid Edge SE2024, affecting all versions prior to V224.0 Update 2. The flaw resides in the application's PAR file parsing routines. An attacker who convinces a user to open a specially crafted PAR file can trigger memory corruption and execute arbitrary code in the context of the current process. The vulnerability is tracked under [CWE-121] Stack-based Buffer Overflow and [CWE-787] Out-of-bounds Write. Siemens ProductCERT published advisory SSA-589937 documenting the issue and providing remediation guidance.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows local code execution with the privileges of the user running Solid Edge, potentially compromising engineering workstations and intellectual property.

Affected Products

Siemens Solid Edge SE2024 — all versions prior to V224.0 Update 2
Siemens Solid Edge SE2024 V224.0 (base release)
Siemens Solid Edge SE2024 V224.0 Update 1

Discovery Timeline

2024-05-14 - CVE-2024-34773 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-34773

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a stack-based buffer overflow triggered when Solid Edge parses PAR (Solid Edge Part) files. PAR is Siemens' native part-modeling file format used throughout the Solid Edge computer-aided design (CAD) workflow. When the application processes a maliciously crafted PAR file, insufficient bounds checking during parsing allows attacker-controlled data to overwrite adjacent stack memory.

Exploitation requires user interaction. A victim must open the malicious file locally, typically after receiving it through email, a shared drive, or a supply-chain vector such as a compromised design library. Because Solid Edge is commonly deployed on engineering workstations that handle sensitive intellectual property, successful exploitation can enable code execution, credential theft, or lateral movement within manufacturing and product development environments.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper validation of length or size fields within PAR file structures. The parser writes attacker-controlled data past the bounds of a fixed-size stack buffer, corrupting the return address and saved registers. This aligns with the assigned weaknesses [CWE-121] and [CWE-787].

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker crafts a malformed PAR file, delivers it through phishing or file-sharing, and induces the target user to open it in Solid Edge. Parsing the file triggers the overflow and hands control flow to attacker-supplied code executing with the user's privileges.

No public proof-of-concept, exploit code, or evidence of in-the-wild exploitation is currently associated with CVE-2024-34773, and the vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-34773

Indicators of Compromise

Solid Edge process (Edge.exe) crashes or unexpected terminations when opening PAR files from untrusted sources.
Unusual child processes spawned by the Solid Edge process, such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or scripting engines.
PAR files originating from external email attachments, unmanaged file shares, or newly downloaded design libraries.

Detection Strategies

Monitor endpoint telemetry for process-creation events where Solid Edge spawns interpreters or LOLBins immediately after opening a document.
Alert on Windows Error Reporting or crash-dump events referencing Edge.exe with access-violation exceptions during file parsing.
Inspect PAR files at email and web gateways using file-type validation and reputation-based heuristics.

Monitoring Recommendations

Baseline normal Solid Edge behavior on engineering workstations and flag deviations such as network connections to untrusted hosts.
Log and review PAR file transfers into engineering VLANs from external sources.
Correlate CAD application crashes with subsequent authentication or file-access anomalies on the same host.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-34773

Immediate Actions Required

Update all Solid Edge SE2024 installations to V224.0 Update 2 or later as instructed in the Siemens advisory.
Restrict opening of PAR files to trusted internal sources and validate provenance before use.
Educate engineering staff on the risk of opening CAD files received through email or external channels.

Patch Information

Siemens has released Solid Edge SE2024 V224.0 Update 2, which addresses this vulnerability. Refer to the Siemens Security Advisory SSA-589937 for download links and full remediation details.

Workarounds

Only open PAR files received from trusted sources and verify sender identity before opening attachments.
Apply application allowlisting to prevent Solid Edge from launching unexpected child processes such as shells or scripting hosts.
Segment engineering workstations from general corporate networks to limit lateral movement following a successful exploit.

bash

# Verify Solid Edge version on Windows endpoints (PowerShell)
Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Siemens\Solid Edge\Version 224\Configuration" `
  | Select-Object InstalledVersion, InstallDate
# Confirm the installed version is >= V224.0 Update 2 per SSA-589937