Publication Date:
Last Update:
Current Version: V1.6
CVSS v3.1 Base Score: 7.8
Affected Product and Versions Remediation

All versions

All versions < V15.1 Update 7
Update to V15.1 Update 7 or later version

All versions < V16 Update 6
Update to V16 Update 6 or later version

All versions < V17 Update 4
Update to V17 Update 4 or later version
  • Remove write permissions for every non-administrative user on files and folders located below the "TraceEngine" folder (usually located at "C:\ProgramData\Siemens\Automation")
  • A partially working fix for Native Language Windows Versions in English or Multilingual User Interface (MUI) Windows Installation was included in TIA Portal Versions V14 SP1 Update 10, V15 SP1 Update 4,V16 Update 1 and V17

As a general security measure, Siemens strongly recommends to protect network access to devices with appropriate mechanisms. In order to operate the devices in a protected IT environment, Siemens recommends to configure the environment according to Siemens' operational guidelines for Industrial Security (Download: https://www.siemens.com/cert/operational-guidelines-industrial-security), and to follow the recommendations in the product manuals.

Additional information on Industrial Security by Siemens can be found at: https://www.siemens.com/industrialsecurity

The vulnerability classification has been performed by using the CVSS scoring system in version 3.1 (CVSS v3.1) (https://www.first.org/cvss/). The CVSS environmental score is specific to the customer’s environment and will impact the overall CVSS score. The environmental score should therefore be individually defined by the customer to accomplish final scoring.

An additional classification has been performed using the CWE classification, a community-developed list of common software security weaknesses. This serves as a common language and as a baseline for weakness identification, mitigation, and prevention efforts. A detailed list of CWE classes can be found at: https://cwe.mitre.org/.

CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.8
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:U/RC:C
CWE CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

  • Abian Blome from Siemens Energy for pointing out, that the initial fix was only partially functional
  • Wiliam Knowles from Applied Risk for reporting the vulnerability

https://www.siemens.com/cert/advisories

V1.0 (2020-01-14): Publication Date
V1.1 (2020-04-14): Added solution for TIA Portal V16
V1.2 (2021-01-12): Added solution for TIA Portal V14
V1.3 (2021-12-14): Errata: Removed solutions: The previously provided fixes only correctly set the permissions on Native Language Windows Versions in English or Multilingual User Interface (MUI) Windows Installations and added TIA Portal V17 as affected product.
V1.4 (2022-05-10): Added solution for TIA Portal V15
V1.5 (2022-06-14): Added fix for TIA Portal V17
V1.6 (2022-08-09): Added fix for TIA Portal V16