CVE-2024-5560 Overview
CVE-2024-5560 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability [CWE-125] affecting Schneider Electric Sage Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) firmware. An unauthenticated remote attacker can send a specially crafted HTTP request to the device's web interface and trigger a denial of service condition. The flaw impacts multiple Sage RTU hardware models used in critical infrastructure environments, including electric utility substations and industrial control systems.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated network attackers can disrupt the web management interface of Sage RTU devices deployed in operational technology (OT) networks, impacting availability of substation automation and remote control functions.
Affected Products
- Schneider Electric Sage RTU Firmware
- Schneider Electric Sage 1410, Sage 1430, Sage 1450
- Schneider Electric Sage 2400, Sage 3030 Magnum, Sage 4400
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-06-12 - CVE-2024-5560 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2024-06-12 - Schneider Electric publishes security notice SEVD-2024-163-05
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-5560
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the HTTP request handling logic of the Sage RTU web interface. When the device parses a specially crafted HTTP request, it reads memory beyond the bounds of an allocated buffer. The out-of-bounds read causes the web service to fault, resulting in a denial of service against the management interface.
The issue is classified under [CWE-125] Out-of-bounds Read. Exploitation requires only network reachability to the device's HTTP service and no authentication or user interaction. The attack impacts availability of the web interface used by operators to configure and monitor the RTU.
While this flaw does not expose code execution or data confidentiality, denial of service against an RTU management plane is significant in industrial control environments. Sage RTUs are deployed in electric substation automation and SCADA systems where availability of management functions supports operational continuity.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper bounds checking when the HTTP parser processes attacker-supplied request fields. Insufficient validation of input length or structure allows the parser to dereference memory outside the expected buffer range during request processing.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is network-based and unauthenticated. An attacker with TCP/IP connectivity to the RTU's web interface sends a malformed HTTP request to trigger the out-of-bounds read. Successful exploitation crashes the web service and renders the management interface unavailable until the device or service is restarted.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is available for this vulnerability. Refer to the Schneider Electric Security Notice SEVD-2024-163-05 for vendor-supplied technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-5560
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected restarts or crashes of the Sage RTU web management service
- Loss of HTTP connectivity to the RTU management interface from authorized operator workstations
- Anomalous or malformed HTTP requests in network traffic destined for the RTU web port
Detection Strategies
- Deploy network intrusion detection signatures that flag malformed HTTP requests targeting Sage RTU management interfaces
- Monitor OT network segments for unauthorized HTTP traffic to RTU IP addresses, especially from outside the engineering workstation subnet
- Correlate RTU service availability telemetry with network logs to identify denial of service events tied to specific source addresses
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable SNMP or syslog forwarding from Sage RTUs to a centralized monitoring platform to detect web service failures
- Apply OT-aware network monitoring with deep packet inspection on protocols traversing substation networks
- Establish a baseline of legitimate HTTP traffic to RTU management interfaces and alert on deviations
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-5560
Immediate Actions Required
- Review Schneider Electric advisory SEVD-2024-163-05 and apply the vendor-recommended firmware updates or remediation steps for affected Sage RTU models
- Restrict network access to the RTU web interface using firewalls and ACLs so that only authorized engineering workstations can reach the HTTP service
- Place all Sage RTU devices behind a properly segmented OT DMZ following IEC 62443 zone and conduit principles
Patch Information
Refer to the Schneider Electric Security Notice SEVD-2024-163-05 for the official remediation guidance and any available firmware updates for the Sage 1410, 1430, 1450, 2400, 3030 Magnum, and 4400 models.
Workarounds
- Disable the web management interface on Sage RTUs where it is not operationally required
- Enforce VPN access for any remote engineering connections to the OT network hosting the RTUs
- Monitor RTU availability and have a documented recovery procedure to restart the web service or device after a suspected denial of service event
# Example firewall rule restricting HTTP access to the RTU to a single engineering workstation
# Replace 10.10.5.10 with your engineering workstation and 10.20.1.50 with the RTU IP
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp -s 10.10.5.10 -d 10.20.1.50 --dport 80 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp -d 10.20.1.50 --dport 80 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
