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CVE-2024-46738 Siemens CVE debrief

A use-after-free vulnerability exists in the VMCI (Virtual Machine Communication Interface) subsystem, specifically within the vmci_resource_remove() function. This flaw can be triggered when removing a resource, potentially allowing a local attacker with low privileges to execute arbitrary code, escalate privileges, or cause a denial of service. The vulnerability affects Siemens industrial networking products running SINEC OS, including RUGGEDCOM RST2428P switches and multiple SCALANCE product families. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 (HIGH) reflects significant impacts to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, though exploitation requires local access and low privileges. Siemens has released updates to address this vulnerability, with V3.2 or later versions containing the fix.

Vendor
Siemens
Product
RUGGEDCOM RST2428P (6GK6242-6PA00)
CVSS
HIGH 7.8
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 those deploying RUGGEDCOM RST2428P switches or SCALANCE product families in critical infrastructure environments. Security teams responsible for OT/ICS asset management and patch deployment should prioritize this vulnerability due to its HIGH severity rating and potential for privilege escalation.

Technical summary

The vulnerability resides in the vmci_resource_remove() function of the VMCI kernel module. A use-after-free condition occurs during resource removal operations, where a pointer to freed memory may be subsequently dereferenced. This memory safety defect can lead to arbitrary code execution in kernel context. The attack surface is limited to local attackers with authenticated low-privilege access. The vulnerability affects SINEC OS-based products including RUGGEDCOM RST2428P (6GK6242-6PA00), SCALANCE XC-300/XR-300/XC-400/XR-500WG/XR-500 family, and SCALANCE XCM-/XRM-/XCH-/XRH-300 family. Remediation requires updating to firmware version V3.2 or later.

Defensive priority

HIGH

Recommended defensive actions

  • Apply vendor-provided updates to V3.2 or later for affected RUGGEDCOM and SCALANCE products per Siemens ProductCERT guidance
  • For SCALANCE XC-300/XR-300/XC-400/XR-500WG/XR-500 family, consult Siemens ProductCERT advisory SSA-355557 for specific configuration guidance
  • Implement network segmentation to limit local access to affected industrial control systems
  • Monitor for anomalous process behavior or unexpected system crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts
  • Apply principle of least privilege to limit local user accounts on affected systems
  • Review and apply CISA ICS recommended practices for defense-in-depth strategies

Evidence notes

The vulnerability description is sourced from CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-25-226-07, which references Siemens ProductCERT advisory SSA-355557. The CVSS vector (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C) confirms local attack vector with low attack complexity and low privileges required. The use-after-free condition in vmci_resource_remove() indicates a memory management defect in the VMCI kernel module.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2024-46738 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-46738

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

  • CVE-2024-46738 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-46738

    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-25-226-07.json

    cisa_csaf

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/csaf/ssa-355557.json

    Reference

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-355557.html

    Reference

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-25-226-07

    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.