CVE-2025-64769: Aveva Process Optimization Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2025-64769 Overview

CVE-2025-64769 is a cleartext transmission vulnerability (CWE-319) affecting the AVEVA Process Optimization application suite. The application leverages connection channels and protocols that by default are not encrypted, potentially exposing sensitive industrial control system (ICS) data to unauthorized access. This vulnerability could enable attackers positioned on adjacent networks to perform man-in-the-middle attacks or passive inspection of network traffic, resulting in data leakage or connection hijacking.

Critical Impact

Unencrypted communications in industrial control environments could allow attackers to intercept sensitive operational data, manipulate process parameters, or gain unauthorized access to critical infrastructure systems.

Affected Products

• AVEVA Process Optimization (all versions prior to patched release)

Discovery Timeline

• January 16, 2026 - CVE-2025-64769 published to NVD
• January 22, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-64769

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from the use of unencrypted communication protocols within the AVEVA Process Optimization suite. The application transmits data over network connections without proper encryption, leaving the communication channel vulnerable to interception. In operational technology (OT) environments where this software is deployed, the lack of transport layer security creates significant risk for process control data integrity and confidentiality.

The attack requires adjacent network access, meaning an attacker must be positioned on the same network segment as the vulnerable application. While this adds a barrier to exploitation, industrial environments often have flatter network architectures, making this attack vector more feasible than in typical enterprise IT environments.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-64769 is the implementation of cleartext transmission (CWE-319) within the AVEVA Process Optimization application. The software's default configuration uses unencrypted protocols for inter-component communication, failing to implement TLS/SSL encryption for data in transit. This design decision exposes all transmitted data—including potentially sensitive process parameters, authentication credentials, and operational commands—to network-level interception.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability requires adjacent network access to exploit. An attacker positioned on the same network segment as the AVEVA Process Optimization deployment can intercept unencrypted traffic using standard network sniffing tools. The attack can be conducted passively (observing traffic) or actively (man-in-the-middle scenarios where traffic is intercepted and potentially modified).

In a typical exploitation scenario, an attacker would:

1. Gain access to the network segment where AVEVA Process Optimization operates
2. Deploy network capture tools to monitor traffic between application components
3. Extract sensitive information from cleartext communications
4. Optionally, perform active MITM attacks to inject malicious commands or manipulate process data

For detailed technical information, refer to the CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-26-015-01 and the AVEVA Cyber Security Updates page.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-64769

Indicators of Compromise

• Presence of network capture tools or packet sniffers on systems within the same network segment as AVEVA Process Optimization
• Unusual ARP traffic patterns that may indicate ARP spoofing attempts for MITM positioning
• Unexpected network interface configurations (promiscuous mode enabled) on adjacent systems
• Authentication failures or anomalous login patterns that could indicate credential theft from intercepted traffic

Detection Strategies

• Monitor network traffic for unencrypted communications on ports used by AVEVA Process Optimization
• Implement network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) with signatures for cleartext protocol detection
• Deploy SentinelOne Singularity™ for endpoint protection to detect network reconnaissance and MITM tools
• Use network flow analysis to identify suspicious traffic patterns between ICS components

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging of all AVEVA Process Optimization network connections and authentication events
• Implement continuous network monitoring for the OT environment with alerting on unencrypted protocol usage
• Deploy asset inventory tools to track all devices on the same network segment as vulnerable systems
• Review firewall and network segmentation rules to ensure proper isolation of ICS components

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-64769

Immediate Actions Required

• Apply the latest security patch from AVEVA as soon as available through the AVEVA Product Downloads portal
• Implement network segmentation to isolate AVEVA Process Optimization from untrusted network segments
• Enable TLS/SSL encryption where configuration options allow
• Review and restrict network access to only authorized systems and users

Patch Information

AVEVA has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Organizations should consult the AVEVA Cyber Security Updates page for the latest patch information and apply updates according to their operational change management procedures. The CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-26-015-01 provides additional guidance for ICS environments.

Workarounds

• Implement VPN tunnels or encrypted overlay networks for all AVEVA Process Optimization communications until patches can be applied
• Deploy strict network segmentation using firewalls and VLANs to limit adjacent network access
• Implement 802.1X network access control to prevent unauthorized devices from joining the network segment
• Use network-level encryption solutions such as IPsec to protect traffic in transit
• Enable port security and disable unused switch ports to reduce attack surface