CVE-2024-54094 Overview
CVE-2024-54094 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Siemens Solid Edge SE2024 affecting all versions prior to V224.0 Update 5. The flaw exists in the PAR file parsing logic and can be triggered when a user opens a specially crafted PAR file. Successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current process.
The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) and CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write). Siemens published the fix in advisory SSA-730188.
Critical Impact
Attackers can execute arbitrary code on engineering workstations by convincing a user to open a malicious .par file, leading to compromise of the local process and any assets it can access.
Affected Products
- Siemens Solid Edge SE2024 — all versions before V224.0 Update 5
- Solid Edge SE2024 base release 224.0 and updates 0001 through 0004
- Windows engineering workstations running vulnerable Solid Edge installations
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-12-10 - CVE-2024-54094 published to NVD
- 2024-12-10 - Siemens ProductCERT publishes advisory SSA-730188
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-54094
Vulnerability Analysis
Solid Edge is a computer-aided design (CAD) application that natively processes .par (Solid Edge Part) files. The affected parser fails to validate the length of one or more fields inside a PAR file before copying data into a heap-allocated buffer. When the attacker-controlled size exceeds the destination allocation, the parser writes past the buffer boundary and corrupts adjacent heap metadata or object pointers.
The defect requires user interaction: a target must open the malicious file locally. Because the attack surface sits inside the parsing engine executed by the Solid Edge process, code executes with the privileges of the interactive user. On engineering workstations, that user typically has access to source designs, intellectual property, and network shares.
Delivery is straightforward. Attackers can email PAR files, host them on file-sharing services, or plant them in shared engineering repositories to reach targets in manufacturing and industrial environments.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing bounds validation during PAR file deserialization. A size or offset value read from the untrusted file is used directly as the length parameter for a heap write. This satisfies both CWE-122 and CWE-787 classifications.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires local file opening but no authentication. An attacker crafts a PAR file with malformed length fields, delivers it through phishing or a compromised design-collaboration channel, and waits for a Solid Edge user to open it. Heap grooming and controlled overwrites can convert the corruption into arbitrary code execution inside the Solid Edge process.
See the Siemens Security Advisory SSA-730188 for vendor-confirmed technical scope.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-54094
Indicators of Compromise
- Solid Edge processes (Edge.exe, related parsers) spawning shells, rundll32.exe, regsvr32.exe, or scripting hosts such as powershell.exe or wscript.exe
- Unexpected crashes of Solid Edge with heap corruption exceptions (0xC0000374, 0xC0000005) when opening PAR files
- PAR files arriving from external senders or untrusted network shares immediately before anomalous process activity
- New outbound network connections initiated from the Solid Edge process context following a file open event
Detection Strategies
- Alert on child processes created by Solid Edge binaries, particularly command interpreters or LOLBins
- Monitor for Windows Error Reporting (WerFault.exe) events referencing Solid Edge modules and heap-related exception codes
- Inspect email and file-share gateways for .par attachments and quarantine those from unverified senders for sandbox analysis
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable process-lineage telemetry on engineering workstations and forward it to a centralized data lake for retrospective hunting
- Track file writes to Solid Edge working directories from non-Solid Edge processes, which may indicate staging of malicious PAR files
- Correlate endpoint telemetry with EDR memory-integrity alerts to catch heap corruption exploitation attempts
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-54094
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade all Solid Edge SE2024 installations to V224.0 Update 5 or later without delay
- Inventory endpoints running Solid Edge SE2024 by querying installed software via management tooling and prioritize patch deployment
- Instruct engineering users to open PAR files only from trusted, verified sources until patching is complete
Patch Information
Siemens has released Solid Edge SE2024 V224.0 Update 5, which remediates the PAR parser bounds check. Download the update from the Siemens Solid Edge customer portal. Full remediation guidance is documented in Siemens Security Advisory SSA-730188.
Workarounds
- Block or quarantine .par attachments at the email gateway when the sender is external or unverified
- Restrict write access to shared engineering repositories so unauthorized users cannot plant malicious PAR files
- Apply application allowlisting to prevent child processes such as cmd.exe or powershell.exe from launching from Solid Edge
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
