CVE-2024-44102
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges on Siemens TeleControl Server Basic systems by sending maliciously crafted serialized objects. It affects all versions below V3.1.2.1 when redundancy is configured. This is a critical remote code execution vulnerability affecting industrial control systems.
💻 Affected Systems
- PP TeleControl Server Basic 1000 to 5000 V3.1 (6NH9910-0AA31-0AE1)
- PP TeleControl Server Basic 256 to 1000 V3.1 (6NH9910-0AA31-0AD1)
- PP TeleControl Server Basic 32 to 64 V3.1 (6NH9910-0AA31-0AF1)
- PP TeleControl Server Basic 64 to 256 V3.1 (6NH9910-0AA31-0AC1)
- PP TeleControl Server Basic 8 to 32 V3.1 (6NH9910-0AA31-0AB1)
- TeleControl Server Basic 1000 V3.1 (6NH9910-0AA31-0AD0)
- TeleControl Server Basic 256 V3.1 (6NH9910-0AA31-0AC0)
- TeleControl Server Basic 32 V3.1 (6NH9910-0AA31-0AF0)
- TeleControl Server Basic 5000 V3.1 (6NH9910-0AA31-0AE0)
- TeleControl Server Basic 64 V3.1 (6NH9910-0AA31-0AB0)
- TeleControl Server Basic 8 V3.1 (6NH9910-0AA31-0AA0)
- TeleControl Server Basic Serv Upgr (6NH9910-0AA31-0GA1)
- TeleControl Server Basic Upgr V3.1 (6NH9910-0AA31-0GA0)
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise allowing attacker to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges, potentially taking control of industrial control systems, disrupting operations, or causing physical damage.
Likely Case
Remote code execution leading to data theft, system manipulation, or ransomware deployment on industrial control networks.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if systems are isolated, properly segmented, and have redundancy disabled where possible.
🎯 Exploit Status
Unauthenticated remote exploitation with maximum CVSS score suggests relatively straightforward exploitation once details are known.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: V3.1.2.1
Vendor Advisory: https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-454789.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download V3.1.2.1 update from Siemens support portal. 2. Backup system configuration. 3. Apply update following Siemens installation guide. 4. Restart system. 5. Verify version is now V3.1.2.1 or higher.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Redundancy
windowsRemove redundancy configuration if not required for operations
Configure via TeleControl Server Basic administration interface to disable redundancy features
Network Segmentation
allIsolate TeleControl Server systems from untrusted networks
Configure firewall rules to restrict access to TeleControl Server ports from authorized systems only
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network segmentation and firewall rules to limit access to TeleControl Server systems
- Disable redundancy configuration if not operationally required
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check TeleControl Server version via administration interface and verify redundancy is configured. Vulnerable if version < V3.1.2.1 AND redundancy enabled.Check Version:
Check version in TeleControl Server Basic administration interface under System InformationVerify Fix Applied:
Verify version is V3.1.2.1 or higher in administration interface and test redundancy functionality.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual serialization/deserialization errors
- Unexpected process creation with SYSTEM privileges
- Network connections to unusual external IPs
Network Indicators:
- Unusual traffic patterns to TeleControl Server ports
- Malformed serialized objects in network traffic
SIEM Query:
source="TeleControl Server" AND (event_type="deserialization_error" OR process_name="cmd.exe" OR process_name="powershell.exe")