CVE-2025-3286 Rockwell Automation CVE debrief

Who should care

Organizations using Rockwell Automation Arena, especially engineering, operations, and support teams running affected versions (<=16.20.08). Any environment where users may open DOE files from external or untrusted sources should treat this as a priority.

Technical summary

The advisory describes a local code execution vulnerability in Arena caused by insufficient validation of user-supplied data leading to reads outside the allocated memory buffer. The affected product version is Rockwell Automation Arena <=16.20.08. The attack requires user interaction: a legitimate user must open a malicious DOE file. Successful exploitation may expose information and enable arbitrary code execution on the system. CISA lists CVSS v3.1 as 7.8 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Defensive priority

High. The issue requires user interaction and local execution context, but it can still result in full code execution on affected workstations or engineering systems.

Recommended defensive actions

• Upgrade Rockwell Automation Arena to V16.20.09 or later.
• Treat DOE files from untrusted or unknown sources as suspicious and restrict how they are handled.
• Follow Rockwell Automation’s published security advisory SD1726 for product-specific guidance.
• Apply CISA-recommended industrial control system security best practices to reduce exposure on engineering and operations workstations.
• Limit exposure of affected systems by using least privilege and controlling who can open project files on shared systems.

Evidence notes

This debrief is based on CISA’s CSAF advisory ICSA-25-100-07 for Rockwell Automation Arena, published 2025-04-10 and revised 2025-05-06 for typo fixes. The source lists one affected product entry: Rockwell Automation Arena <=16.20.08. The advisory states the vulnerability can disclose information and execute arbitrary code when a legitimate user opens a malicious DOE file. CISA’s listed CVSS v3.1 vector is AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Rockwell Automation’s remediation in the source is V16.20.09 or later.

Official resources