PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2024-3640 Rockwell Automation CVE debrief

An unquoted executable path vulnerability exists in Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk Remote Access (FTRA) versions ≤v13.5.0.174. The vulnerability occurs during installation when the executable path is not properly quoted, potentially allowing a threat actor with administrative privileges to achieve remote code execution as SYSTEM by placing a malicious executable in the unquoted path. This vulnerability requires local access, high privileges, and user interaction, resulting in a CVSS 3.1 score of 6.5 (MEDIUM). CISA published advisory ICSA-24-135-01 on May 14, 2024, coordinating with Rockwell Automation. The vendor has released version 13.6 to address this issue. No known exploitation in the wild has been reported, and this vulnerability is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Vendor: Rockwell Automation
Product: FactoryTalk Remote Access
CVSS: MEDIUM 6.5
CISA KEV: Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published: 2024-05-14
Original CVE updated: 2024-05-14
Advisory published: 2024-05-14
Advisory updated: 2024-05-14

Who should care

Organizations running Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk Remote Access ≤v13.5.0.174 in industrial control environments; OT security teams managing remote access solutions; asset owners with FTRA deployments requiring patch management prioritization

Technical summary

The FactoryTalk Remote Access installer fails to properly quote executable paths during installation (CWE-428). An attacker with pre-existing administrative privileges can exploit this by placing a malicious executable in the unquoted path, which will execute with SYSTEM privileges when the installer runs. The attack requires local access and user interaction with the installer. CVSS 3.1: 6.5 (MEDIUM). Fixed in v13.6.

Defensive priority

medium

Recommended defensive actions

Upgrade FactoryTalk Remote Access to version 13.6 or later per vendor security bulletin
Review installation procedures for FTRA deployments to ensure proper path quoting
Apply principle of least privilege for administrative accounts accessing FTRA systems
Monitor for unauthorized executable placement in FTRA installation directories
Consult Rockwell Automation's security advisory for additional mitigation guidance

Evidence notes

Vulnerability confirmed through CISA CSAF advisory ICSA-24-135-01 published 2024-05-14. CVSS 3.1 vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H confirms local attack vector with high privileges required. Affected product version ≤v13.5.0.174 explicitly stated in CSAF product tree. Vendor fix to v13.6 documented in remediation section.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

CVE-2024-3640 CVE Program record
Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-3640

CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.
CVE-2024-3640 NVD vulnerability detail
Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-3640

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/2024/icsa-24-135-01.json

cisa_csaf
Source reference
Unverified legacy reference

URL: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-24-135-01

Reference
Source reference
Unverified legacy reference

URL: https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/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/sites/default/files/publications/Cybersecurity_Best_Practices_for_Industrial_Control_Systems.pdf

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/uscert/sites/default/files/publications/emailscams0905.pdf

Reference
Source reference
Unverified legacy reference

URL: https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ncas/tips/ST04-014

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.