Siemens User Management Component (UMC)
Act Now9.8ICS-CERT ICSA-24-256-03Sep 10, 2024
Attack VectorNetwork
Auth RequiredNone
ComplexityLow
User InteractionNone needed
Summary
A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the Siemens User Management Component (UMC) allows unauthenticated remote code execution. UMC is a shared authentication and authorization service used by multiple Siemens engineering and control system products including TIA Portal, SIMATIC PCS neo, Opcenter suites, and SINEC NMS. An attacker can send a specially crafted network message to the UMC service (listening on ports 4002 or 4004) to overflow a heap buffer and execute arbitrary code. The UMC service runs on engineering workstations and servers and manages access to production systems and PLCs.
What this means
What could happen
An unauthenticated attacker with network access to the UMC service could trigger a buffer overflow and execute arbitrary code on your engineering workstations, servers, or the PCS systems they manage. This could allow the attacker to modify PLCs, process settings, or SCADA logic to disrupt production or alter safety interlocks.
Who's at risk
This affects Siemens engineering and operational software used in water utilities, power generation, and industrial plants: TIA Portal (all users designing or managing SIMATIC systems), SIMATIC PCS neo (process control systems), Opcenter Quality and RDnL (manufacturing operations), SINEC NMS (network management), and SINEMA Remote Connect (remote engineering access). Any organization using these tools is at risk if UMC is exposed to untrusted networks or accessible from business IT systems.
How it could be exploited
An attacker sends a malformed message to the UMC service listening on ports 4002 or 4004 over the network. No authentication is required. The buffer overflow in the UMC code allows the attacker to overwrite heap memory and inject executable code, gaining the ability to run commands with the privilege level of the UMC service.
Prerequisites
- Network access (unauthenticated) to UDP/TCP ports 4002 or 4004 where the UMC service is listening
- UMC service must be running and reachable from the attacker's network position
- No credential validation required for exploitation
remotely exploitableno authentication requiredlow complexityheap-based buffer overflowaffects engineering workstations and control system serversaffects multiple critical Siemens platformsseveral products have no fix available
Exploitability
Moderate exploit probability (EPSS 3.3%)
Affected products (11)
9 with fix2 EOL
ProductAffected VersionsFix Status
Totally Integrated Automation Portal (TIA Portal) V16All versionsNo fix (EOL)
Opcenter Quality< 24062406
Opcenter RDnL< 24102410
SIMATIC PCS neo V4.1<V4.1 Update 24.1 Update 2
SIMATIC PCS neo V5.0<V5.0 Update 15.0 Update 1
SINEMA Remote Connect Client<V3.2 SP33.2 SP3
Totally Integrated Automation Portal (TIA Portal) V17<V17 Update 817 Update 8
Totally Integrated Automation Portal (TIA Portal) V18<V18 Update 518 Update 5
Remediation & Mitigation
0/12
Do now
0/2WORKAROUNDConfigure firewall rules to restrict inbound traffic on ports 4002 and 4004 to only UMC server IP addresses and authorized engineering machines
WORKAROUNDBlock port 4004 completely at the firewall if RT server machines are not in use
Schedule — requires maintenance window
0/8Patching may require device reboot — plan for process interruption
Opcenter Quality
HOTFIXUpdate Opcenter Quality to version 2406 or later
Opcenter RDnL
HOTFIXUpdate Opcenter RDnL to version 2410 or later
SIMATIC PCS neo V4.1
HOTFIXUpdate SIMATIC PCS neo V4.1 to Update 2 or later
SIMATIC PCS neo V5.0
HOTFIXUpdate SIMATIC PCS neo V5.0 to Update 1 or later
SINEC NMS
HOTFIXUpdate SINEC NMS UMC to V2.11.6 or later
Totally Integrated Automation Portal (TIA Portal) V16
HOTFIXUpdate TIA Portal V17 to Update 8 or later
HOTFIXUpdate TIA Portal V18 UMC to V2.13.1 (delivered via TIA Portal V17 Update 8)
HOTFIXUpdate TIA Portal V19 UMC to V2.13.1 (delivered via TIA Portal V17 Update 8)
Mitigations - no patch available
0/2The following products have reached End of Life with no planned fix: Totally Integrated Automation Portal (TIA Portal) V16, SIMATIC PCS neo V4.0. Apply the following compensating controls:
HARDENINGSegment the UMC network from general IT and business networks using firewalls and air gaps where practical
HARDENINGEnsure UMC services and engineering workstations are not exposed to the internet or untrusted networks
CVEs (1)
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