CVE-2025-24499 Overview
CVE-2025-24499 affects Siemens SCALANCE WAB, WAM, and WUB wireless industrial access points across all firmware versions before V3.0.0. The devices fail to properly validate input while loading configuration files. An authenticated remote attacker can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary shell commands on the underlying operating system of the device.
The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-20: Improper Input Validation] and impacts industrial wireless infrastructure deployed in operational technology (OT) environments. Successful exploitation grants the attacker full command execution on the affected device, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the wireless gateway.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary shell commands on SCALANCE wireless access points by injecting malicious content into configuration files, allowing full takeover of industrial wireless network infrastructure.
Affected Products
- SCALANCE WAB762-1 and WUB762-1 series (all variants, versions prior to V3.0.0)
- SCALANCE WAM763-1, WAM766-1, and WAM766-1 EEC families including ME and US variants (all versions prior to V3.0.0)
- SCALANCE WUM763-1 and WUM766-1 families including ME, US, and USA variants (all versions prior to V3.0.0)
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-02-11 - CVE-2025-24499 published to NVD with Siemens Security Advisory SSA-769027
- 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-24499
Vulnerability Analysis
The flaw resides in the configuration file loading routines of the SCALANCE wireless access point firmware. The device parses configuration files without enforcing strict validation on the input fields they contain. When attacker-controlled data is processed during the load operation, the parser passes unsanitized content into a shell context. This produces command injection on the underlying Linux-based device operating system.
The attack vector is network-based and requires authenticated access with high privileges to the device management interface. Once an attacker uploads or supplies a crafted configuration file, the embedded shell metacharacters execute with the privileges of the process performing the configuration load. This typically translates to administrative or root-equivalent access on the device shell.
Industrial wireless access points such as these often bridge IT and OT networks. Compromise of a SCALANCE access point can enable lateral movement into segmented control networks, manipulation of traffic between wireless field devices, and persistent footholds in operational environments.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper input validation [CWE-20] during configuration file processing. The firmware does not sanitize or restrict shell metacharacters and command separators within configuration parameters before those values are passed to shell interpreters or system calls.
Attack Vector
An attacker authenticated to the device management interface supplies a configuration file containing crafted parameter values. When the SCALANCE device loads the file, the unsanitized values reach a shell execution context, resulting in arbitrary command execution on the device. No verified public exploit or proof-of-concept code is available at this time. Refer to the Siemens Security Advisory SSA-769027 for vendor technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24499
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected configuration file uploads or restore operations on SCALANCE WAB/WAM/WUB management interfaces
- Outbound network connections from SCALANCE devices to unusual destinations following a configuration change
- Configuration files containing shell metacharacters such as ;, |, &&, backticks, or $() in parameter values
Detection Strategies
- Monitor SCALANCE device syslog output for configuration load events and correlate with authentication logs for the management interface
- Inspect configuration backups for parameter values containing shell metacharacters or unexpected binary content
- Audit administrative account activity on industrial wireless devices, focusing on configuration import operations from unusual source addresses
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward SCALANCE syslog and authentication events to a centralized SIEM for correlation across the OT environment
- Establish network baselines for SCALANCE management traffic and alert on deviations such as outbound shell-like traffic from the device
- Track firmware version inventory of SCALANCE wireless products to identify devices still running versions prior to V3.0.0
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24499
Immediate Actions Required
- Update all affected SCALANCE WAB762-1, WAM763-1, WAM766-1, WAM766-1 EEC, WUB762-1, WUM763-1, and WUM766-1 devices to firmware V3.0.0 or later
- Restrict access to device management interfaces to a dedicated administrative VLAN or jump host
- Rotate administrative credentials on all SCALANCE devices and enforce strong, unique passwords per device
- Audit recent configuration changes and restore operations on affected devices for signs of abuse
Patch Information
Siemens has released firmware version V3.0.0 for all affected SCALANCE WAB, WAM, and WUB product variants. Apply the update referenced in Siemens Security Advisory SSA-769027. The advisory provides per-article-number download paths and verification details.
Workarounds
- Limit access to the device web and management services to trusted administrative workstations using firewall rules
- Disable remote configuration upload features where not required by operational workflows
- Apply network segmentation between IT networks and the OT cells hosting SCALANCE wireless infrastructure to reduce reachability of management interfaces
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
