CVE-2024-52573: Siemens Tecnomatix Plant Simulation RCE

CVE-2024-52573 Overview

CVE-2024-52573 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability [CWE-787] affecting Siemens Teamcenter Visualization and Tecnomatix Plant Simulation. The flaw resides in the WRL (VRML) file parsing logic of the affected applications. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious .wrl file and convincing a user to open it. Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current process. The Zero Day Initiative tracked this issue as ZDI-CAN-24521 prior to public disclosure by Siemens.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the process opening the malicious WRL file, potentially compromising engineering workstations used in industrial and manufacturing environments.

Affected Products

Teamcenter Visualization V14.2 (versions < V14.2.0.14) and V14.3 (versions < V14.3.0.12)
Teamcenter Visualization V2312 (versions < V2312.0008) and V2406 (versions < V2406.0005)
Tecnomatix Plant Simulation V2302 (versions < V2302.0018) and V2404 (versions < V2404.0007)

Discovery Timeline

2024-11-18 - CVE-2024-52573 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-52573

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds write [CWE-787] in the WRL file parser used by Teamcenter Visualization and Tecnomatix Plant Simulation. WRL is the file extension for VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language), a text-based 3D scene description format commonly used in computer-aided design and simulation workflows.

During parsing of a specially crafted WRL file, the affected applications write data past the bounds of an allocated buffer. Attackers can leverage this memory corruption to overwrite adjacent memory structures, including function pointers or object metadata, and redirect execution flow. The result is arbitrary code execution in the context of the process opening the file.

Exploitation requires user interaction. A victim must open the malicious WRL file with a vulnerable version of Teamcenter Visualization or Tecnomatix Plant Simulation. The attack vector is local, making phishing and supply-chain delivery of malicious model files realistic delivery mechanisms for engineering environments.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient bounds validation when the WRL parser processes attacker-controlled fields within the file. The parser trusts size or index values embedded in the file and writes data into a fixed-size buffer without confirming the destination write remains within allocation limits.

Attack Vector

An attacker crafts a malicious .wrl file containing manipulated 3D scene definitions that trigger the out-of-bounds write. The file is delivered to a victim by email, shared drive, or through a compromised model repository. When the victim opens the file in an affected Siemens application, the parser processes the malformed content, corrupts process memory, and the attacker gains code execution under the user's privileges.

// No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available.
// See Siemens advisory SSA-824503 and SSA-645131 for technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-52573

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected .wrl files received via email or downloaded from untrusted sources on engineering workstations
Crashes or abnormal termination of Tcvis.exe, PlantSimulation.exe, or related Siemens processes when opening 3D model files
Child processes spawned from Teamcenter Visualization or Tecnomatix Plant Simulation that execute shells, scripting engines, or network utilities
Outbound network connections initiated by the visualization or simulation process shortly after a WRL file is opened

Detection Strategies

Monitor process-creation telemetry for anomalous child processes of Tcvis.exe and PlantSimulation.exe such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or rundll32.exe
Deploy YARA or content rules that flag WRL files with malformed field lengths or oversized index values
Correlate file-open events on .wrl extensions with subsequent process crashes captured in Windows Error Reporting logs

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable module-load and memory-integrity logging on engineering workstations running affected Siemens products
Alert on WRL files transiting email gateways, web proxies, or file-sharing services
Aggregate endpoint telemetry into a central SIEM to correlate parser crashes with user, host, and file-origin context

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-52573

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade affected Teamcenter Visualization and Tecnomatix Plant Simulation installations to the fixed versions listed in the Siemens advisories
Block or quarantine .wrl file attachments at email and web gateways until patching is complete
Restrict engineering workstations to opening WRL files from trusted, authenticated sources only
Instruct users to avoid opening unsolicited 3D model files, particularly those received from external parties

Patch Information

Siemens released fixed versions in advisories SSA-824503 and SSA-645131. Upgrade Teamcenter Visualization V14.2 to V14.2.0.14 or later, V14.3 to V14.3.0.12 or later, V2312 to V2312.0008 or later, and V2406 to V2406.0005 or later. Upgrade Tecnomatix Plant Simulation V2302 to V2302.0018 or later and V2404 to V2404.0007 or later.

Workarounds

Do not open WRL files from untrusted or unverified sources
Apply application allow-listing to restrict which processes can be launched from Siemens visualization and simulation applications
Enforce 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 phishing exposure

bash

# Verify installed Teamcenter Visualization version on Windows
wmic product where "Name like '%%Teamcenter Visualization%%'" get Name,Version

# Block .wrl attachments at Exchange transport (example)
New-TransportRule -Name "Block WRL Attachments" \
  -AttachmentExtensionMatchesWords "wrl" \
  -RejectMessageReasonText "WRL files blocked pending CVE-2024-52573 remediation"