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PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2023-52670 Siemens CVE debrief

CVE-2023-52670 is a memory leak vulnerability in the Linux kernel's rpmsg virtio driver, specifically affecting the handling of driver_override during device removal. The vulnerability occurs when rpmsg_remove() fails to free the driver_override string, leading to a memory leak condition. This issue was resolved in the Linux kernel by ensuring proper deallocation of driver_override when the rpmsg device is removed. Siemens has identified this vulnerability as affecting certain industrial networking products running SINEC OS, including the RUGGEDCOM RST2428P and SCALANCE X-family switches. The vulnerability is classified as 'Misinformed' impact in the CISA advisory, indicating limited practical exploitability in operational technology environments. No CVSS score is currently assigned. Organizations should apply vendor-provided firmware updates and follow defense-in-depth practices for industrial control systems.

Vendor
Siemens
Product
RUGGEDCOM RST2428P (6GK6242-6PA00)
CVSS
Unknown
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2025-08-12
Original CVE updated
2026-02-25
Advisory published
2025-08-12
Advisory updated
2026-02-25

Who should care

Organizations operating Siemens industrial networking infrastructure, particularly RUGGEDCOM and SCALANCE product families in critical infrastructure, manufacturing, and utility environments. Security teams responsible for OT/ICS asset management and vulnerability management programs.

Technical summary

The vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's rpmsg (remote processor messaging) virtio transport driver. When an rpmsg device is removed via rpmsg_remove(), the driver_override string allocated for the device is not properly freed, resulting in a memory leak. The fix ensures driver_override is deallocated during the removal cleanup path. This kernel-level issue affects embedded Linux systems used in Siemens industrial networking equipment running SINEC OS, including RUGGEDCOM RST2428P and SCALANCE X-300/XR-300/XC-400/XR-500 series switches. The memory leak could theoretically contribute to resource exhaustion over repeated device attach/detach cycles, though operational impact is assessed as limited.

Defensive priority

medium

Recommended defensive actions

  • Apply vendor-provided firmware updates for affected Siemens SINEC OS products when available
  • Review and implement CISA ICS recommended practices for defense-in-depth security
  • Monitor Siemens ProductCERT advisory SSA-613116 for updated remediation guidance
  • Assess exposure of affected industrial switches (RUGGEDCOM RST2428P, SCALANCE X-family) in critical infrastructure environments
  • Implement network segmentation for industrial control systems per CISA guidance

Evidence notes

Vulnerability description sourced from CISA CSAF advisory ICSA-25-226-15, which references Siemens ProductCERT advisory SSA-613116. The issue is a kernel-level memory leak in rpmsg virtio driver cleanup path. Siemens advisory indicates affected products include RUGGEDCOM RST2428P and SCALANCE X-family industrial switches running SINEC OS. Impact classification of 'Misinformed' suggests limited practical security impact in operational contexts.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2023-52670 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-52670

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

  • CVE-2023-52670 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-52670

    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/2025/icsa-25-226-15.json

    cisa_csaf

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/csaf/ssa-613116.json

    Reference

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-613116.html

    Reference

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-25-226-15

    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.