Siemens Polarion

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).

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1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• CVSS v4 7.1
• ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely/low attack complexity
• Vendor: Siemens
• Equipment: Polarion
• Vulnerabilities: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection'), Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), Observable Response Discrepancy

2. RISK EVALUATION

Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow attackers to extract data, conduct cross-site scripting attacks or find out valid usernames.

3. TECHNICAL DETAILS

3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS

Siemens reports that the following products are affected:

• Polarion V2310: All versions
• Polarion V2404: Versions prior to V2404.4 (CVE-2024-51444, CVE-2024-51445, CVE-2024-51446)
• Polarion V2404: Versions prior to V2404.2 (CVE-2024-51447)

3.2 VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW

3.2.1 IMPROPER NEUTRALIZATION OF SPECIAL ELEMENTS USED IN AN SQL COMMAND ('SQL INJECTION') CWE-89

The application insufficiently validates user input for database read queries. This could allow an authenticated remote attacker to conduct an SQL injection attack that bypasses authorization controls and allows to download any data from the application's database.

CVE-2024-51444 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2024-51444. A base score of 7.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.2 IMPROPER RESTRICTION OF XML EXTERNAL ENTITY REFERENCE CWE-611

The affected application contains a XML External Entity Injection (XXE) vulnerability in the docx import feature. This could allow an authenticated remote attacker to read arbitrary data from the application server.

CVE-2024-51445 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2024-51445. A base score of 7.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.3 IMPROPER NEUTRALIZATION OF INPUT DURING WEB PAGE GENERATION ('CROSS-SITE SCRIPTING') CWE-79

The file upload feature of the affected application improperly sanitizes xml files. This could allow an authenticated remote attacker to conduct a stored cross-site scripting attack by uploading specially crafted xml files that are later downloaded and viewed by other users of the application.

CVE-2024-51446 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2024-51446. A base score of 5.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:L/SI:L/SA:L).

3.2.4 OBSERVABLE RESPONSE DISCREPANCY CWE-204

The login implementation of the affected application contains an observable response discrepancy vulnerability when validating usernames. This could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to distinguish between valid and invalid usernames.

CVE-2024-51447 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2024-51447. A base score of 6.9 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.3 BACKGROUND

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

3.4 RESEARCHER

Thales Digital Factory reported these vulnerabilities to Siemens.
Luis Manuel Alvarez Tapia from BorgWarner Luxembourg Automotive Systems SARL for reported CVE-2024-51444 to Siemens.
Siemens ProductCERT reported these vulnerabilities to CISA.

4. MITIGATIONS

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

• Polarion V2404 (CVE-2024-51444, CVE-2024-51445, CVE-2024-51446): Update to V2404.4 or later version
• Polarion V2404 (CVE-2024-51447): Update to V2404.2 or later version
• Polarion V2310: Currently no fix is planned

As a general security measure, Siemens recommends protecting network access to devices with appropriate mechanisms. To operate the devices in a protected IT environment, Siemens recommends configuring the environment according to Siemens' operational guidelines for industrial security and following recommendations in the product manuals.

Additional information on industrial security by Siemens can be found on the Siemens industrial security webpage

For more information see the associated Siemens security advisory SSA-162255 in HTML and CSAF.

CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of these vulnerabilities, such as:

• Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and/or systems, ensuring they are not accessible from the internet.
• Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls and isolating them from business networks.
• When remote access is required, use more secure methods, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Recognize VPNs may have vulnerabilities, should be updated to the most recent version available, and are only as secure as the connected devices.

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. 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 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.

CISA also recommends users take the following measures to protect themselves from social engineering attacks:

• Do not click web links or open attachments in unsolicited email messages.
• Refer to Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams for more information on avoiding email scams.
• Refer to Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information on social engineering attacks.

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

5. UPDATE HISTORY

• May 15, 2025: Initial Republication of Siemens SSA-162255

• Siemens