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CVE-2024-35973 Siemens CVE debrief

CVE-2024-35973 is a medium-severity vulnerability (CVSS 5.5) affecting the GENEVE tunneling implementation in the Linux kernel, specifically in the `geneve_xmit_skb` function. The issue involves improper header validation that could lead to a denial-of-service condition. 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 requires local access with low privileges to exploit, and successful exploitation results in high availability impact with no confidentiality or integrity impact. Siemens has released updates to address this issue, recommending affected users upgrade to SINEC OS V3.1 or later.

Vendor
Siemens
Product
RUGGEDCOM RST2428P (6GK6242-6PA00)
CVSS
MEDIUM 5.5
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 equipment including SCALANCE XC-300/XR-300/XC-400/XR-500WG/XR-500 family switches, SCALANCE XCM-/XRM-/XCH-/XRH-300 family devices, and RUGGEDCOM RST2428P switches. This particularly affects OT/ICS environments utilizing GENEVE tunneling for network virtualization, cloud infrastructure providers using GENEVE in their underlying Linux kernel implementations, and security teams responsible for maintaining availability of critical industrial control system networks.

Technical summary

The vulnerability exists in the GENEVE (Generic Network Virtualization Encapsulation) implementation within the Linux kernel's `geneve_xmit_skb` function. GENEVE is a tunneling protocol used for network virtualization, commonly deployed in cloud and data center environments. The flaw involves insufficient validation of GENEVE packet headers during transmission, which can be triggered by a local attacker with low privileges. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H) indicates a local attack vector with low attack complexity, requiring low privileges and no user interaction, resulting in high availability impact. Siemens has confirmed this affects SINEC OS versions prior to 3.1 on specific industrial networking hardware. The remediation requires updating to SINEC OS V3.1 or later, which contains the corrected header validation logic.

Defensive priority

medium

Recommended defensive actions

  • Update affected Siemens SINEC OS devices to version 3.1 or later to remediate this vulnerability
  • Review network segmentation for industrial control systems to limit exposure of GENEVE tunnel endpoints
  • Apply defense-in-depth strategies per CISA ICS recommended practices for industrial control systems
  • Monitor for anomalous local access attempts on affected SCALANCE and RUGGEDCOM devices
  • Verify that only authorized personnel have local access to devices running SINEC OS

Evidence notes

CVE published 2025-08-12; modified 2026-02-25. Source advisory ICSA-25-226-15 from CISA CSAF. Vendor fix available requiring update to V3.1 or later. CVSS vector confirms local attack vector with low attack complexity and low privileges required.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2024-35973 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-35973

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

  • CVE-2024-35973 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-35973

    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.