CVE-2023-40728
📋 TL;DR
QMS Automotive versions before V12.39 store sensitive application data in insecure external storage via the QMS.Mobile module. This allows attackers with physical or logical access to modify data, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or denial-of-service. All users of QMS Automotive below V12.39 are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- QMS Automotive
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attacker gains full control of the system through arbitrary code execution, potentially compromising the entire automotive system or adjacent networks.
Likely Case
Data manipulation leading to application crashes, incorrect system behavior, or limited code execution within the application context.
If Mitigated
Unauthorized data access but limited impact due to application sandboxing or additional security controls.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires access to the device's external storage, which could be achieved through physical access, malware, or compromised mobile device management.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: V12.39
Vendor Advisory: https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-147266.pdf
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download QMS Automotive V12.39 or later from Siemens support portal. 2. Backup current configuration. 3. Install the update following vendor instructions. 4. Restart the application and verify functionality.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict External Storage Access
allUse mobile device management (MDM) policies to restrict application access to external storage
MDM-specific configuration commands vary by platform
Application Sandboxing
allImplement additional application containerization or sandboxing to limit storage access
Platform-specific sandboxing commands
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate affected systems from critical networks and implement strict access controls
- Implement enhanced monitoring for unauthorized storage access attempts and application behavior anomalies
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check QMS Automotive version in application settings or about section. If version is below V12.39, the system is vulnerable.Check Version:
Application-specific: Check 'About' or 'Settings' section within QMS Automotive applicationVerify Fix Applied:
Verify version is V12.39 or higher in application settings. Test that sensitive data is no longer stored in external storage locations.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unauthorized access to application data files in external storage
- Application crashes or abnormal behavior after storage access
Network Indicators:
- Unusual data transfers from mobile devices to external systems
SIEM Query:
source="mobile_device" AND (event="external_storage_access" OR app="QMS.Mobile") AND result="success"