ICS Advisory: Siemens SIMATIC PCS neo Administration Console

As of January 10, 2023, CISA will no longer be updating ICS security advisories for Siemens product vulnerabilities beyond the initial advisory. For the most up-to-date information on vulnerabilities in this advisory, please see Siemens’ ProductCERT Security Advisories (CERT Services | Services | Siemens Global). 

View CSAF

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• CVSS v3 5.5
• ATTENTION: low attack complexity
• Vendor: Siemens
• Equipment: SIMATIC PCS neo Administration Console
• Vulnerability: Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory

2. RISK EVALUATION

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could get the credentials, and impersonate the admin user, thereby gaining admin access to other Windows systems.

3. TECHNICAL DETAILS

3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS

Siemens reports that the following products are affected:

• SIMATIC PCS neo (Administration Console): V4.0
• SIMATIC PCS neo (Administration Console): V4.0 Update 1

3.2 Vulnerability Overview

3.2.1 Insertion of Sensitive Information into Externally-Accessible File or Directory CWE-538

The affected application leaks Windows admin credentials. An attacker with local access to the Administration Console could get the credentials, and impersonate the admin user, thereby gaining admin access to other Windows systems.

CVE-2023-38558 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 5.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

3.3 BACKGROUND

• CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Multiple
• COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide
• COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: Germany

3.4 RESEARCHER

Siemens reported this vulnerability to CISA.

4. MITIGATIONS

Siemens has released Security Patch 01 for the affected products and recommends users install the patch.

Siemens has identified the following specific workarounds and mitigations that
customers can apply to reduce the risk:

• Change the password of the Windows accounts used for the remote deployment of AC Agent and avoid to remotely deploy AC Agents

As a general security measure, Siemens strongly recommends protecting network access to devices with appropriate mechanisms. In order to operate the devices in a protected IT environment, Siemens recommends configuring the environment according to Siemens’ operational guidelines for industrial security and follow the recommendations in the product manuals.
Additional information on industrial security by Siemens can be found
at: https://www.siemens.com/industrialsecurity

For more information see the associated Siemens security advisory SSA-357182 in HTML and CSAF.

CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of this vulnerability. CISA reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures.

CISA also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS webpage on cisa.gov/ics. Several CISA products detailing cyber defense best practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies.

CISA encourages organizations to implement recommended cybersecurity strategies for proactive defense of ICS assets.

Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available on the ICS webpage at cisa.gov/ics in the technical information paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B–Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies.

Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.

No known public exploitation specifically targeting this vulnerability has been reported to CISA at this time.

5. UPDATE HISTORY

• September 19, 2023: Initial Publication