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Full vulnerability report · 2020
CVE-2020-7580High confidence

Siemens SIMATIC Automation Tool — Unquoted Search Path or Element

Siemens · SIMATIC Automation Tool

6.7MediumCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Patch only the product branches with a verified fix

Medium technical severity with no CISA KEV confirmation; remediate through the normal risk-based patch cycle unless local exposure raises the priority. Verified remediation exists for at least one product or source, but 27 structured product or package states remain unresolved. Apply remediation only to the exact product branch confirmed by its source.

Fix availability varies by product
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityMediumOperational priority:Low, lowered one band.downgradedsince 4 Aug 2024

Evidence used

  • No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
  • Exploitation requires an existing local or physical foothold with privileges.
  • EPSS is 0.46% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
  • Monitor vendor guidance and exploitation sources for a material change.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs Siemens SIMATIC Automation Tool and falls inside the recorded affected range.
  2. Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
  3. Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
  4. Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Mitigation target: No default targetRemediation target: Normal maintenance

This automated reassessment organises public evidence. It does not know asset exposure, business impact or control effectiveness and does not replace CVSS or a human risk decision.

Cross-source reconciliation

Remediation availability differs by product scope

Verified remediation exists for at least one product or source, but 27 structured product or package states remain unresolved. Apply remediation only to the exact product branch confirmed by its source.

Direct vendor intelligence

Authoritative vendor CSAF and VEX advisories

Structured product status and remediation from the issuing vendor. Product-state explanations are always visible; large lists can be searched or downloaded.

1 current
SSA-312271 · CSAF 2.0 · revision 12 · finalSiemens ProductCERTSSA-312271: Unquoted Search Path Vulnerability in Windows-based Industrial Software Applications
27 known affected

The vendor explicitly identifies these products as affected by this CVE.

  • SIMATIC Automation Tool
  • SIMATIC NET PC Software V14
  • SIMATIC NET PC Software V15
  • SIMATIC NET PC Software V16
  • SIMATIC PCS neo
  • SIMATIC ProSave
  • SIMATIC S7-1500 Software Controller
  • SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V13
  • SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V14
  • SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V15
  • SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V16
  • SIMATIC STEP 7 V5
Summary
A common component used by the affected applications regularly calls a helper binary with SYSTEM privileges while the call path is not quoted. This could allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code with SYTEM privileges.
Remediation
Update to V13 SP2 Update 4 or later version
Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2020-28705

No EUVD known-exploited evidence

ENISA has published the identifier mapping but no EUVD description has been stored yet.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Not present in the current ENISA EUVD known-exploited dataset. This is not proof of no exploitation.
ENISA score
Not supplied in the stored EUVD record
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionPatch only the product branches with a verified fix

Medium technical severity with no CISA KEV confirmation; remediate through the normal risk-based patch cycle unless local exposure raises the priority. Verified remediation exists for at least one product or source, but 27 structured product or package states remain unresolved. Apply remediation only to the exact product branch confirmed by its source.

Fix availability varies by product
01

What, why and how

A vulnerability has been identified in SIMATIC Automation Tool (All versions < V4 SP2), SIMATIC NET PC Software V14 (All versions < V14 SP1 Update 14), SIMATIC NET PC Software V15 (All versions), SIMATIC NET PC Software V16 (All versions < V16 Upd3), SIMATIC PCS neo (All versions < V3.0 SP1), SIMATIC ProSave (All versions < V17), SIMATIC S7-1500 Software Controller (All versions < V21.8), SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V13 (All versions < V13 SP2 Update 4), SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V14 (All versions < V14 SP1 Update 10), SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V15 (All versions < V15.1 Update 5), SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V16 (All versions < V16 Update 2), SIMATIC STEP 7 V5 (All versions < V5.6 SP2 HF3), SIMATIC WinCC OA V3.16 (All versions < V3.16 P018), SIMATIC WinCC OA V3.17 (All versions < V3.17 P003), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Advanced (All versions < V16 Update 2), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional V13 (All versions < V13 SP2 Update 4), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional V14 (All versions < V14 SP1 Update 10), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional V15 (All versions < V15.1 Update 5), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional V16 (All versions < V16 Update 2), SIMATIC WinCC V7.4 (All versions < V7.4 SP1 Update 14), SIMATIC WinCC V7.5 (All versions < V7.5 SP1 Update 3), SINAMICS STARTER (All Versions < V5.4 HF2), SINAMICS Startdrive (All Versions < V16 Update 3), SINEC NMS (All versions < V1.0 SP2), SINEMA Server (All versions < V14 SP3), SINUMERIK ONE virtual (All Versions < V6.14), SINUMERIK Operate (All Versions < V6.14). A common component used by the affected applications regularly calls a helper binary with SYSTEM privileges while the call path is not quoted. This could allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code with SYTEM privileges.

What

A vulnerability has been identified in SIMATIC Automation Tool (All versions < V4 SP2), SIMATIC NET PC Software V14 (All versions < V14 SP1 Update 14), SIMATIC NET PC Software V15 (All versions), SIMATIC NET PC Software V16 (All versions < V16 Upd3), SIMATIC PCS neo (All versions < V3.0 SP1), SIMATIC ProSave (All versions < V17), SIMATIC S7-1500 Software Controller (All versions < V21.8), SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V13 (All versions < V13 SP2 Update 4), SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V14 (All versions < V14 SP1 Update 10), SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V15 (All versions < V15.1 Update 5), SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V16 (All versions < V16 Update 2), SIMATIC STEP 7 V5 (All versions < V5.6 SP2 HF3), SIMATIC WinCC OA V3.16 (All versions < V3.16 P018), SIMATIC WinCC OA V3.17 (All versions < V3.17 P003), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Advanced (All versions < V16 Update 2), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional V13 (All versions < V13 SP2 Update 4), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional V14 (All versions < V14 SP1 Update 10), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional V15 (All versions < V15.1 Update 5), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional V16 (All versions < V16 Update 2), SIMATIC WinCC V7.4 (All versions < V7.4 SP1 Update 14), SIMATIC WinCC V7.5 (All versions < V7.5 SP1 Update 3), SINAMICS STARTER (All Versions < V5.4 HF2), SINAMICS Startdrive (All Versions < V16 Update 3), SINEC NMS (All versions < V1.0 SP2), SINEMA Server (All versions < V14 SP3), SINUMERIK ONE virtual (All Versions < V6.14), SINUMERIK Operate (All Versions < V6.14). A common component used by the affected applications regularly calls a helper binary with SYSTEM privileges while the call path is not quoted. This could allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code with SYTEM privileges.

Why

The product uses a search path that contains an unquoted element, in which the element contains whitespace or other separators. This can cause the product to access resources in a parent path.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation with elevated privileges. If successful, the issue may execute code or commands in the affected security context.

What

A vulnerability has been identified in SIMATIC Automation Tool (All versions < V4 SP2), SIMATIC NET PC Software V14 (All versions < V14 SP1 Update 14), SIMATIC NET PC Software V15 (All versions), SIMATIC NET PC Software V16 (All versions < V16 Upd3), SIMATIC PCS neo (All versions < V3.0 SP1), SIMATIC ProSave (All versions < V17), SIMATIC S7-1500 Software Controller (All versions < V21.8), SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V13 (All versions < V13 SP2 Update 4), SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V14 (All versions < V14 SP1 Update 10), SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V15 (All versions < V15.1 Update 5), SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V16 (All versions < V16 Update 2), SIMATIC STEP 7 V5 (All versions < V5.6 SP2 HF3), SIMATIC WinCC OA V3.16 (All versions < V3.16 P018), SIMATIC WinCC OA V3.17 (All versions < V3.17 P003), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Advanced (All versions < V16 Update 2), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional V13 (All versions < V13 SP2 Update 4), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional V14 (All versions < V14 SP1 Update 10), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional V15 (All versions < V15.1 Update 5), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional V16 (All versions < V16 Update 2), SIMATIC WinCC V7.4 (All versions < V7.4 SP1 Update 14), SIMATIC WinCC V7.5 (All versions < V7.5 SP1 Update 3), SINAMICS STARTER (All Versions < V5.4 HF2), SINAMICS Startdrive (All Versions < V16 Update 3), SINEC NMS (All versions < V1.0 SP2), SINEMA Server (All versions < V14 SP3), SINUMERIK ONE virtual (All Versions < V6.14), SINUMERIK Operate (All Versions < V6.14). A common component used by the affected applications regularly calls a helper binary with SYSTEM privileges while the call path is not quoted. This could allow a local attacker to execute arbitrary code with SYTEM privileges.

Why

The product uses a search path that contains an unquoted element, in which the element contains whitespace or other separators. This can cause the product to access resources in a parent path.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation with elevated privileges. If successful, the issue may execute code or commands in the affected security context.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
No confirmed evidence

No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path
local access → Unquoted Search Path or Element → execute code or commands in the affected security context
Attack surface
Local
Privileges required
High: elevated access is required
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-428 ↗

CWE-428: Unquoted Search Path or Element. The product uses a search path that contains an unquoted element, in which the element contains whitespace or other separators. This can cause the product to access resources in a parent path.

CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.

AVLocalAttack vector: The attacker needs local access to the vulnerable system.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRHighPrivileges required: The attacker needs elevated or administrative privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
After compromise, an attacker may use built-in shells, scripting engines, scheduled tasks and native network utilities for discovery, persistence or movement. This is a plausible LoTL path, not evidence that it has occurred for every attack.
Remote code executionCWE-428
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20200617Security Bulletin 17 Jun 2020

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 17 Jun 2020, published on 17 June 2020. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2022-AVI-1094Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits Siemens

rg/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-4842 Référence CVE CVE-2018-4848 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-4848 Référence CVE CVE-2019-13924 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-13924 Référence CVE CVE-2019-1552 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-1552 Référence CVE CVE-2019-16905 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-16905 Référence CVE CVE-2019-6109 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-6109 Référence CVE CVE-2019-6110 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-6110 Référence CVE CVE-2019-6111 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-6111 Référence CVE CVE-2020-28388 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-28388 Référence CVE CVE-2020-7580 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-7580 Référence CVE CVE-2021-40365 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-40365 Référence CVE CVE-2021-44693 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-44693 Référence CVE CVE-2021-44694 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-44694 Référence CVE CVE-2021-44695 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-44695 Référence CVE CVE-2022-30065 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-30065 Référence CVE CVE-2022-3159 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-3159 Référence CVE CVE-2022-3160 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-3160 Référence CVE CVE-2022-3161 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-20

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2020-AVI-349Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits Siemens

.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-8270 Référence CVE CVE-2019-8271 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-8271 Référence CVE CVE-2019-8272 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-8272 Référence CVE CVE-2019-8273 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-8273 Référence CVE CVE-2019-8274 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-8274 Référence CVE CVE-2019-8275 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-8275 Référence CVE CVE-2019-8276 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-8276 Référence CVE CVE-2019-8277 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-8277 Référence CVE CVE-2019-8280 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-8280 Référence CVE CVE-2020-7580 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-7580 Référence CVE CVE-2020-7585 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-7585 Référence CVE CVE-2020-7586 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-7586 Référence CVE CVE-2020-7589 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-7589 Gestion détaillée du document le 09 juin 2020 Version initiale Alertes Avis Bulletins d’actualités Mentions légales Conditions générales À propos Contact cyber.gouv.fr service-public.fr legifrance.gouv.fr info.gouv.fr france.fr info.gouv.fr/risques Premier Ministre / Secrétariat Général de la Défense et de la Sécurité Nationale / Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes

Official advisory ↗
JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2020-006496複数の SIMATIC 製品における引用されない検索パスまたは要素に関する脆弱性

複数の SIMATIC 製品には、引用されない検索パスまたは要素に関する脆弱性が存在します。

Official advisory ↗
03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Fix availability varies by product
Affected
Fixed
No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
Action
Use the product-specific evidence above. Patch only products with a verified fixed release, and keep every affected or under-investigation state without a matching fix in the remediation queue.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 10 Jun 2020 · Last source change 4 Aug 2024, 09:33 UTC · CWE-428 · Unquoted Search Path or Element

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.1
CVSS sourceNIST NVD
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-28705
Product sourceVendor CSAF · Siemens ProductCERT
Remediation sourceVendor CSAF · Siemens ProductCERT
CWE sourceCNA
NVD statusNVD modified after enrichment

Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗
  1. Remediation statusRemediation status changed from Awaiting fix to Mitigation available.
    Before
    Awaiting fix
    After
    Mitigation available
    Siemens ProductCERT ↗
Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
CVE published
Remediation guidance recorded
ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-28705↗CVE authority or vendor reference↗Official CVE record (CNA and ADP data)↗NVD record↗
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2020-7580 · cve.blacktree.nl