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CVE-2023-46720 Siemens CVE debrief

A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in Fortinet FortiOS versions 7.4.0 through 7.4.1, 7.2.0 through 7.2.7, 7.0.0 through 7.0.12, 6.4.6 through 6.4.15, 6.2.9 through 6.2.16, and 6.0.13 through 6.0.18. This vulnerability allows an attacker with high privileges to execute unauthorized code or commands via specially crafted CLI commands. The vulnerability affects Siemens RUGGEDCOM APE1808, which incorporates the affected Fortinet FortiOS component. The issue was published on July 9, 2024, and has a CVSS 3.1 score of 6.7 (MEDIUM severity). The attack vector is local, requiring low attack complexity and high privileges, with no user interaction needed. Successful exploitation can result in high impacts to confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Vendor
Siemens
Product
RUGGEDCOM APE1808
CVSS
MEDIUM 6.7
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2024-07-09
Original CVE updated
2026-01-14
Advisory published
2024-07-09
Advisory updated
2026-01-14

Who should care

Organizations operating Siemens RUGGEDCOM APE1808 devices in industrial control system environments, critical infrastructure operators, network security administrators responsible for Fortinet FortiOS deployments, and compliance teams tracking CVE remediation for OT/ICS security frameworks.

Technical summary

CVE-2023-46720 is a stack-based buffer overflow in Fortinet FortiOS that affects multiple versions from 6.0.13 through 7.4.1. The vulnerability is triggered through specially crafted CLI commands and can lead to unauthorized code execution. The attack requires local access and high privileges (administrative), but successful exploitation yields complete system compromise with high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability is particularly significant in industrial environments where Siemens RUGGEDCOM APE1808 devices are deployed, as these systems often serve critical infrastructure functions. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.7 reflects the constrained attack surface (local, high privileges) balanced against severe impact potential.

Defensive priority

HIGH

Recommended defensive actions

  • Apply the vendor fix by updating Fortigate NGFW to version 7.4.4. Contact Siemens customer support to receive patch and update information for RUGGEDCOM APE1808 systems.
  • Restrict CLI access to authorized administrators only, implementing principle of least privilege for all administrative accounts.
  • Monitor CLI command logs for anomalous or unexpected command patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.
  • Implement network segmentation to isolate affected systems from untrusted networks, limiting lateral movement opportunities.
  • Follow CISA ICS recommended practices for defense-in-depth strategies in industrial control system environments.

Evidence notes

The vulnerability description and affected versions are sourced from the CISA CSAF advisory ICSA-24-193-02. The CVSS vector (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates a local attack vector with high privilege requirements but severe impact if exploited. The advisory was last modified on January 14, 2026, with multiple revisions tracking additional upstream vulnerabilities and remediation updates.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2023-46720 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-46720

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

  • CVE-2023-46720 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-46720

    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-24-193-02.json

    cisa_csaf

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/csaf/ssa-698820.json

    Reference

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-698820.html

    Reference

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-24-193-02

    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.