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CVE-2024-21754 Siemens CVE debrief

A use of password hash with insufficient computational effort vulnerability (CWE-916) affects FortiOS and FortiProxy versions embedded in the Siemens RUGGEDCOM APE1808 industrial platform. The vulnerability, published July 9, 2024, allows a privileged attacker with super-admin profile and CLI access to decrypt backup files due to weak password hashing. The CVSS 3.1 score of 1.8 (Low severity) reflects the high attack complexity and required privileges. This represents an upstream Fortinet vulnerability affecting Siemens' industrial networking equipment, with remediation requiring FortiOS update to version 7.4.4.

Vendor
Siemens
Product
RUGGEDCOM APE1808
CVSS
LOW 1.8
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 industrial networking platforms with integrated Fortinet NGFW functionality; OT security teams managing backup and recovery procedures; compliance officers responsible for encryption strength assessments in industrial environments

Technical summary

The vulnerability stems from insufficient computational effort in password hashing (CWE-916) within FortiOS versions 7.4.3 and below, 7.2.x, 7.0.x, 6.4.x, and FortiProxy versions 7.4.2 and below, 7.2.x, 7.0.x, 2.0.x. When these Fortinet components are deployed in Siemens RUGGEDCOM APE1808 industrial platforms, an attacker with super-admin privileges and CLI access can exploit weak hashing to decrypt backup files. The attack requires local access, high complexity, and high privileges, limiting practical exploitability but creating risk for sensitive configuration exposure.

Defensive priority

low

Recommended defensive actions

  • Update FortiOS to version 7.4.4 on affected RUGGEDCOM APE1808 deployments; contact Siemens customer support for patch and update information
  • Restrict CLI access to super-admin profiles to authorized personnel only and monitor for anomalous backup decryption attempts
  • Review backup file access controls and encryption practices for sensitive configuration data
  • Apply defense-in-depth strategies per CISA ICS recommended practices for industrial control systems

Evidence notes

CVE published 2024-07-09 per CISA CSAF advisory ICSA-24-193-02. Siemens advisory SSA-698820 documents this as an upstream Fortinet vulnerability affecting RUGGEDCOM APE1808. CVSS vector AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N confirms local attack vector with high complexity and privileges required.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2024-21754 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-21754

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

  • CVE-2024-21754 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-21754

    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.