CVE-2025-54926: Path Traversal RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-54926 Overview

CVE-2025-54926 is a path traversal vulnerability [CWE-22] disclosed in a Schneider Electric product. An authenticated attacker with administrative privileges can upload a malicious file over HTTP that the application then executes on the host. Successful exploitation results in remote code execution against the affected system.

The flaw stems from improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, allowing attacker-controlled files to be written outside of intended upload locations. Because the affected service is reachable over the network, exploitation can be performed remotely once admin credentials are obtained.

Critical Impact
Authenticated administrators can achieve remote code execution by uploading a crafted file over HTTP, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the host.

Affected Products

Schneider Electric product as identified in security notice SEVD-2025-224-02
Refer to the vendor advisory for specific product names and firmware versions
See the Schneider Electric Security Notice SEVD-2025-224-02 for the authoritative list

Discovery Timeline

2025-08-20 - CVE-2025-54926 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-54926

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a classic path traversal flaw in an HTTP-accessible administrative upload feature. The application accepts file uploads from authenticated administrators but fails to properly canonicalize and validate the destination pathname. Attackers can supply traversal sequences such as ../ within the filename or path parameter to place files outside the intended upload directory.

Once a file is written to a directory where the server or operating system will execute it, the attacker achieves arbitrary code execution. Exploitation requires high privileges, which limits opportunistic abuse but still represents a meaningful risk in operational technology environments where administrator credentials may be reused, shared, or recovered from configuration backups.

The impact is high across confidentiality, integrity, and availability because code executes with the privileges of the affected service. In industrial environments, this can translate into manipulation of control logic, persistence on engineering workstations, or pivoting toward process networks.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient validation of user-supplied path components during file upload handling. The application trusts portions of the request to determine the final write location without normalizing the path and verifying that it remains within the designated upload directory. This is the pattern captured by [CWE-22].

Attack Vector

An attacker first obtains administrative credentials, either through phishing, credential reuse, or exposure of default accounts. The attacker then issues an HTTP request to the file upload endpoint, embedding traversal sequences in the path or filename to write an executable payload such as a web shell or script into a location handled by the server runtime. A subsequent HTTP request triggers execution.

The vulnerability is described in prose only because no verified proof-of-concept code is published. Consult the Schneider Electric Security Notice SEVD-2025-224-02 for vendor-specific technical detail.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-54926

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected files written outside designated upload directories on the affected host, particularly executable scripts in web-accessible paths
HTTP POST or PUT requests containing traversal sequences such as ../, ..%2f, or encoded equivalents in filename or path parameters
New child processes spawned by the application service shortly after administrative file upload activity

Detection Strategies

Inspect HTTP request logs from the management interface for traversal patterns in upload endpoints and correlate with administrator session activity
Monitor file integrity on directories adjacent to the upload location and within any web-served or scriptable paths on the device
Alert on process creation events where the affected service spawns shells, interpreters, or unexpected binaries

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose audit logging on administrative web interfaces and forward logs to a centralized SIEM for retention and correlation
Baseline normal administrator upload behavior and flag deviations in file extension, size, or destination path
Track authentication events for privileged accounts and investigate logins from unusual source addresses or outside maintenance windows

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-54926

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the firmware or software fix referenced in Schneider Electric Security Notice SEVD-2025-224-02 as soon as it is available for your product version
Rotate administrator credentials on affected devices and remove any unused or default administrative accounts
Restrict network access to the management interface to a defined set of trusted engineering hosts

Patch Information

Schneider Electric documents the remediation in security notice SEVD-2025-224-02. Review the advisory for the exact fixed versions, upgrade procedure, and any prerequisite firmware steps before deploying to production controllers or operator workstations.

Workarounds

Place the affected device behind a firewall and block HTTP access to the management interface from untrusted networks and general user VLANs
Enforce multi-factor authentication or jump-host access for any administrative session that can reach the upload endpoint
Monitor administrative actions and disable the web management interface entirely when not required for active maintenance