CVE-2024-50310 Overview
CVE-2024-50310 is an authorization bypass vulnerability affecting Siemens SIMATIC CP 1543-1 V4.0 communication processors. The affected firmware does not properly handle authorization checks, allowing an unauthenticated remote attacker to gain access to the device filesystem over the network. The flaw is classified under CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization and impacts firmware versions >= V4.0.44 and < V4.0.50 on hardware part number 6GK7543-1AX10-0XE0. Siemens published advisory SSA-654798 describing the issue. The vulnerability is network-exploitable, requires no privileges, and no user interaction.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can reach the SIMATIC CP 1543-1 filesystem, exposing industrial control configuration and project data.
Affected Products
- Siemens SIMATIC CP 1543-1 V4.0 (6GK7543-1AX10-0XE0) firmware versions >= V4.0.44
- Siemens SIMATIC CP 1543-1 V4.0 (6GK7543-1AX10-0XE0) firmware versions < V4.0.50
- SIMATIC CP 1543-1 hardware module (6GK7543-1AX10-0XE0)
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-11-12 - CVE-2024-50310 published to NVD
- 2024-11-12 - Siemens publishes ProductCERT advisory SSA-654798
- 2024-11-13 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-50310
Vulnerability Analysis
The SIMATIC CP 1543-1 is an Ethernet communications processor that connects SIMATIC S7-1500 controllers to industrial and IT networks. Affected firmware in the V4.0.44 through V4.0.49 range fails to enforce authorization for filesystem access requests. A remote attacker reaching the device over the network can obtain access to the filesystem without supplying credentials.
The issue maps to CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization. Authorization decisions are made incorrectly, so requests that should be rejected are honored by the device. The impact is confidentiality of filesystem contents; integrity and availability impacts are not indicated in the vendor advisory.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper authorization handling in the firmware's request processing path. The device exposes filesystem operations to the network but does not consistently validate that the caller is authorized. Because no authentication is required to reach the vulnerable code path, the access control gap is reachable directly from the network.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based. An attacker with reachability to the CP 1543-1 management interface can issue requests that retrieve filesystem objects. No credentials, no user interaction, and no prior foothold are required. Filesystem contents on a CP 1543-1 typically include configuration data, certificates, and project artifacts that aid further reconnaissance or attacks against connected S7-1500 controllers.
No public proof-of-concept exploit, ExploitDB entry, or CISA KEV listing is associated with CVE-2024-50310 at the time of writing. Refer to the Siemens ProductCERT advisory SSA-654798 for vendor technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-50310
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected filesystem read requests reaching the CP 1543-1 management interface from hosts outside the engineering VLAN.
- Outbound transfer of configuration or project files from CP 1543-1 modules to unfamiliar destinations.
- Firmware version banners reporting V4.0.44 through V4.0.49 on production CP 1543-1 modules.
Detection Strategies
- Inventory all SIMATIC CP 1543-1 (6GK7543-1AX10-0XE0) devices and compare firmware against the fixed version V4.0.50 or later.
- Inspect network captures between IT and OT zones for unsolicited connections to CP 1543-1 management ports.
- Correlate engineering workstation activity with CP 1543-1 access events to identify out-of-band filesystem reads.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward firewall and OT switch logs covering the SIMATIC CP 1543-1 segment to a SIEM for anomaly review.
- Alert on any source IP outside the documented engineering subnet that connects to the CP 1543-1.
- Track firmware version drift across the SIMATIC fleet and flag devices that remain on vulnerable releases.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-50310
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade affected SIMATIC CP 1543-1 V4.0 modules to firmware version V4.0.50 or later as directed by Siemens advisory SSA-654798.
- Restrict management access to the CP 1543-1 to a dedicated engineering network with strict firewall rules.
- Audit existing CP 1543-1 modules for unauthorized filesystem access and rotate exposed credentials or certificates stored on the device.
Patch Information
Siemens addressed CVE-2024-50310 in SIMATIC CP 1543-1 firmware version V4.0.50. Apply the update through TIA Portal or the Siemens Industry Online Support download portal. Validate the firmware signature before deployment and schedule the update during a maintenance window because the CP 1543-1 must restart to load new firmware. Full guidance is available in Siemens ProductCERT SSA-654798.
Workarounds
- Place the CP 1543-1 behind a properly configured industrial firewall and limit reachability to trusted engineering hosts.
- Follow Siemens operational guidelines for industrial security to segment IT and OT networks until patches are applied.
- Disable or block the affected device's management services from any untrusted network until firmware V4.0.50 is installed.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
