CVE-2024-45469: Siemens Tecnomatix Plant Simulation RCE

CVE-2024-45469 Overview

CVE-2024-45469 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability [CWE-787] affecting Siemens Teamcenter Visualization and Tecnomatix Plant Simulation. The flaw resides in the parser that processes Virtual Reality Modeling Language (WRL) files. An attacker who convinces a user to open a specially crafted WRL file can trigger memory corruption and execute code in the context of the current process.

The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction. Siemens published advisories SSA-583523 and SSA-645131 with fixed versions.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected workstation.

Affected Products

Teamcenter Visualization V14.2 (all versions before V14.2.0.14), V14.3 (all versions before V14.3.0.12), and V2312 (all versions before V2312.0008)
Tecnomatix Plant Simulation V2302 (all versions before V2302.0016)
Tecnomatix Plant Simulation V2404 (all versions before V2404.0005)

Discovery Timeline

2024-10-08 - CVE-2024-45469 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-45469

Vulnerability Analysis

The affected applications include a parser for WRL files, a text-based 3D scene description format historically used in Virtual Reality Modeling Language content. During parsing, the code writes data outside the bounds of an allocated buffer. An attacker who crafts a malformed WRL file can control the out-of-bounds write and corrupt adjacent memory structures.

Memory corruption in a desktop application parser typically enables control-flow hijack once the attacker overwrites a function pointer, virtual table pointer, or return address. In the context of Teamcenter Visualization and Tecnomatix Plant Simulation, exploitation runs code with the privileges of the user who opened the file, providing a foothold on engineering and operational technology workstations.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient bounds checking in the WRL file parser. The parser trusts size or index values supplied in the file without validating them against the actual destination buffer. Malformed geometry, coordinate, or index arrays inside a WRL file therefore drive writes past the allocated buffer.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local user interaction. An attacker delivers a crafted .wrl file through email, a shared engineering repository, or a compromised supplier CAD package. When a user opens the file in Teamcenter Visualization or imports it into Tecnomatix Plant Simulation, the vulnerable parser processes the attacker-controlled data and triggers the write.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. The vulnerability mechanism is described in Siemens advisories SSA-583523 and SSA-645131.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-45469

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by TcVis.exe, PlantSimulation.exe, or related Siemens visualization binaries, particularly command interpreters such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or wscript.exe
Application crashes or Windows Error Reporting entries referencing access violations during WRL file import
.wrl files arriving from untrusted external sources, especially large files with malformed geometry sections
Outbound network connections initiated by the visualization process shortly after a WRL file open event

Detection Strategies

Hunt for process lineage where Teamcenter Visualization or Plant Simulation is the parent of interactive shells or script hosts
Alert on file writes to autorun paths or scheduled task creation originating from the visualization process
Correlate WRL file open events in file access telemetry with subsequent memory violation events

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable Windows Defender Exploit Guard and log EMET-style mitigation events for the affected executables
Forward endpoint process, file, and module-load telemetry to a centralized analytics platform to identify anomalous behavior of engineering applications
Monitor file shares and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) repositories for the introduction of .wrl files from unusual sources

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-45469

Immediate Actions Required

Update Teamcenter Visualization to V14.2.0.14, V14.3.0.12, or V2312.0008 or later according to the installed branch
Update Tecnomatix Plant Simulation to V2302.0016 or V2404.0005 or later
Restrict opening of WRL files to trusted sources only and block .wrl attachments at the email gateway pending patch deployment
Inventory endpoints running the affected products and prioritize patching for workstations that routinely receive CAD data from third parties

Patch Information

Siemens has released fixed versions addressing CVE-2024-45469. Consult Siemens Security Advisory SSA-583523 for Teamcenter Visualization and Siemens Security Advisory SSA-645131 for Tecnomatix Plant Simulation. Apply the vendor-supplied installers to each affected branch.

Workarounds

Avoid opening WRL files from untrusted or unverified sources
Enforce application allowlisting and least-privilege user accounts on engineering workstations to limit the impact of code execution
Segment engineering and operational technology networks from general corporate access to reduce delivery paths for malicious CAD files

bash

# Example: block .wrl attachments at the mail gateway (Exchange transport rule)
New-TransportRule -Name "Block WRL Attachments" \
  -AttachmentExtensionMatchesWords "wrl" \
  -RejectMessageReasonText "WRL attachments are blocked pending CVE-2024-45469 remediation."