CVE-2024-41790: Siemens 7KT PAC1260 Data Manager RCE Flaw

CVE-2024-41790 Overview

CVE-2024-41790 is an OS command injection vulnerability in the Siemens SENTRON 7KT PAC1260 Data Manager. The web interface fails to sanitize the region parameter in specific POST requests. An authenticated remote attacker can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary operating system commands with root privileges on the affected device.

The vulnerability affects all firmware versions of the SENTRON 7KT PAC1260 Data Manager. Siemens tracks the issue under advisory SSA-187636. The weakness is classified under CWE-78, Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants root-level command execution on industrial energy monitoring hardware, exposing operational technology environments to full device compromise.

Affected Products

Siemens SENTRON 7KT PAC1260 Data Manager (hardware) — all versions
Siemens SENTRON 7KT PAC1260 Data Manager firmware — all versions
Deployments exposing the device web interface to authenticated users

Discovery Timeline

2025-04-08 - CVE-2024-41790 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-41790

Vulnerability Analysis

The SENTRON 7KT PAC1260 Data Manager is an industrial energy data collection device that exposes a web-based management interface. The interface processes POST requests containing a region parameter that is passed to an underlying operating system command handler without proper input neutralization.

Because the web application executes as root on the embedded Linux firmware, injected shell metacharacters run with the highest privilege level available on the device. An attacker can leverage this to modify configuration files, exfiltrate stored credentials, pivot into the connected industrial network, or persistently backdoor the device.

The CWE-78 classification identifies this as OS Command Injection. Exploitation requires prior authentication to the web interface, but no user interaction is needed after credentials are obtained. Weak or default credentials on internet-adjacent devices materially reduce the barrier to exploitation.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing input validation and sanitization on the region POST parameter within the device's web application. User-supplied input is concatenated into a command string interpreted by a system shell instead of being passed as arguments to a safe execution function. Shell metacharacters such as ;, |, &&, and backticks retain their special meaning and allow command chaining.

Attack Vector

An attacker with valid credentials to the web interface sends a crafted POST request containing shell metacharacters within the region field. The server-side handler passes the value to a shell context, executing attacker-controlled commands as root. The attack is remote over the network and requires no user interaction. See the Siemens Security Advisory SSA-187636 for full technical context.

// No verified public proof-of-concept is available.
// See the Siemens advisory SSA-187636 for technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-41790

Indicators of Compromise

POST requests to the device web interface containing shell metacharacters (;, |, &, `, $()) within the region parameter.
Unexpected outbound network connections initiated by the SENTRON 7KT PAC1260 Data Manager to unknown hosts.
New or modified files, cron entries, or startup scripts on the device that were not created by legitimate administrators.
Web server or application log entries showing authenticated sessions from unusual source addresses immediately followed by anomalous requests.

Detection Strategies

Deploy network intrusion detection signatures that inspect HTTP POST bodies destined for the device management interface for shell metacharacters in the region field.
Baseline expected administrative traffic patterns and alert on POST requests originating from IP addresses outside the operations network.
Correlate authentication events with subsequent device configuration changes to identify credential misuse.

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward device syslog, web access logs, and network flow data to a centralized analytics platform for correlation.
Monitor for repeated authentication failures against the web interface, which often precede successful credential compromise.
Track firmware version and configuration hashes to detect unauthorized modification.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-41790

Immediate Actions Required

Restrict network access to the SENTRON 7KT PAC1260 Data Manager web interface to trusted management workstations using firewall rules or network segmentation.
Rotate all administrative credentials on the device and enforce strong, unique passwords.
Review web interface access logs for unauthorized authenticated sessions and evidence of prior exploitation.
Isolate affected devices within a dedicated OT VLAN with strict egress filtering.

Patch Information

At time of publication, Siemens has not listed a fixed firmware version in the advisory. Consult the Siemens Security Advisory SSA-187636 for the current remediation status and any updated firmware releases. Apply Siemens-provided updates immediately when available.

Workarounds

Place the device behind a firewall or VPN and permit access only from a limited set of engineering workstations.
Disable remote access to the web interface where operationally feasible and manage the device via a dedicated jump host.
Follow Siemens operational guidelines for industrial security, including defense-in-depth and network segmentation per IEC 62443.
Monitor Siemens ProductCERT for updated advisories and firmware releases specific to the 7KT PAC1260 platform.

bash

# Example firewall restriction limiting management access to a trusted subnet
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 10.10.20.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 10.10.20.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP