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CVE-2025-2287 Rockwell Automation CVE debrief

CVE-2025-2287 is a high-severity local code execution vulnerability in Rockwell Automation Arena affecting version 16.20.08 and earlier. CISA’s advisory says the flaw stems from an uninitialized pointer and improper validation of user-supplied data. If a legitimate user opens a malicious DOE file, an attacker may be able to disclose information and execute arbitrary code on the system. The safest response is to prioritize patching affected engineering workstations and treat DOE files from untrusted sources as high risk.

Vendor
Rockwell Automation
Product
Arena
CVSS
HIGH 7.8
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2025-04-10
Original CVE updated
2025-05-06
Advisory published
2025-04-10
Advisory updated
2025-05-06

Who should care

OT and ICS teams running Rockwell Automation Arena, engineering workstation owners, plant operators, vulnerability management teams, and incident responders who handle DOE project files.

Technical summary

The advisory describes a local code execution issue with CVSS 3.1 7.8 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). The root cause is an uninitialized pointer combined with improper validation of user-supplied data. Exploitation requires user interaction: a legitimate user must open a malicious DOE file. The affected product listed in the CSAF is Rockwell Automation Arena: <=16.20.08, and Rockwell recommends upgrading to V16.20.09 or later.

Defensive priority

High. Patch affected Arena deployments promptly, especially where engineering workstations may open externally sourced or otherwise untrusted DOE files.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Upgrade Rockwell Automation Arena to V16.20.09 or later.
  • Reduce exposure to untrusted DOE files on systems running Arena; treat files from external or unknown sources as unsafe.
  • Follow Rockwell Automation’s published security best practices for industrial automation control systems.
  • Apply CISA ICS recommended practices and standard defensive controls such as least privilege, workstation hardening, and application allowlisting where feasible.

Evidence notes

The supplied CISA CSAF advisory ICSA-25-100-07 was published on 2025-04-10 and revised on 2025-05-06 with the revision summary listed as typo fixes. The advisory identifies Rockwell Automation Arena: <=16.20.08 as affected and recommends upgrading to V16.20.09 or later. The source corpus also includes CISA ICS recommended practices and the Rockwell Automation security advisory SD1726 as supporting references. No KEV assignment or ransomware linkage was provided in the corpus.

Official resources

CISA publicly disclosed the issue on 2025-04-10 via ICSA-25-100-07; the 2025-05-06 update is documented as a revision for typo fixes.