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PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2017-10989 ABB CVE debrief

The getNodeSize function in ext/rtree/rtree.c in SQLite through 3.19.3, as used in GDAL and other products, mis-handles undersized RTree blobs in a crafted database, leading to a heap-based buffer over-read or possibly un-specified other impact. This vulnerability has a CVSS score of 9.8 and is considered critical. The issue was initially reported in 2017 and has been recently republished by CISA. ABB B&R Automation Studio is one of the affected products, with a fixed version available at 6.5. Users should apply the update at the earliest convenience.

Vendor
ABB
Product
B&R Automation Studio
CVSS
CRITICAL 9.8
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-02-18
Original CVE updated
2026-05-21
Advisory published
2026-02-18
Advisory updated
2026-05-21

Who should care

Organizations using B&R Automation Studio versions prior to 6.5 should prioritize patching this vulnerability. Given the critical severity and high CVSS score, defenders should treat this as a high-priority patch. Industrial control systems, being potential targets, require immediate attention to prevent exploitation.

Technical summary

The vulnerability lies in the getNodeSize function within SQLite's RTree extension. When handling undersized RTree blobs in a crafted database, it leads to a heap-based buffer over-read. This could result in unspecified impacts beyond just data leakage. The issue is exacerbated by its inclusion in various products, increasing the attack surface. A CVSS score of 9.8 highlights the critical nature of this vulnerability.

Defensive priority

High priority due to critical CVSS score of 9.8 and potential for heap-based buffer over-reads. Immediate patching is recommended for affected systems, especially in industrial control environments.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Apply the patch to B&R Automation Studio by upgrading to version 6.5 or later.
  • Implement general security recommendations as provided by CISA to keep systems secure.
  • Conduct a thorough inventory check of all systems using affected versions of SQLite or B&R Automation Studio.
  • Monitor systems for any suspicious activity that could indicate exploitation attempts.
  • Consider compensating controls if immediate patching is not feasible.

Evidence notes

The CVE was initially published on 2017-09-05 and has been republished. CISA provides detailed information about the vulnerability and its impact on industrial control systems. ABB provides a fix in B&R Automation Studio 6.5. The vulnerability's criticality and widespread impact necessitate immediate attention.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2017-10989 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-10989

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2017-10989 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-10989

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental references

  • Source item URL

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cisagov/CSAF/develop/csaf_files/OT/white/2026/icsa-26-141-03.json

    cisa_csaf

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://psirt.abb.com/csaf/2026/sa25p007.json

    Reference

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://www.br-automation.com/fileadmin/SA25P007-097a386d.pdf

    Reference

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-26-141-03

    Reference

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-alerts/ics-alert-10-301-01

    Reference

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/ics-recommended-practices

    Reference

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://www.cisa.gov/topics/industrial-control-systems

    Reference

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/recommended_practices/NCCIC_ICS-CERT_Defense_in_Depth_2016_S508C.pdf

    Reference

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.