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Rockwell Automation Arena

Plan Patch7.8ICS-CERT ICSA-25-100-07Apr 10, 2025
Attack VectorLocal
Auth RequiredNone
ComplexityLow
User InteractionRequired
Summary

Rockwell Automation Arena versions 16.20.08 and earlier contain multiple memory safety vulnerabilities (CWE-457, CWE-787, CWE-125, CWE-121). These vulnerabilities could allow an attacker with local access to disclose sensitive information from the system memory or execute arbitrary code on the workstation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction, such as opening a malicious file. The vulnerabilities are not remotely exploitable.

What this means
What could happen
An attacker with local access to a system running Rockwell Automation Arena could read sensitive information from memory or execute arbitrary code on the workstation, potentially compromising engineering or automation design files and control logic.
Who's at risk
Engineering teams and control system designers using Rockwell Automation Arena for industrial automation design and simulation. This affects organizations in water, electric, manufacturing, and chemical industries that use Arena for PLC programming and process simulation on workstations.
How it could be exploited
An attacker must have local access to the Arena-running workstation and trick a user into opening a malicious file or interact with a crafted input. Once executed, the vulnerabilities in memory handling and buffer operations could allow the attacker to read unauthorized memory regions or overwrite memory to run arbitrary commands on that machine.
Prerequisites
  • Local access to the workstation running Arena
  • User interaction required (opening a file or responding to a prompt)
  • Arena version 16.20.08 or earlier installed
Low complexity exploitationUser interaction requiredLocal access only (not remotely exploitable)Affects engineering workstations which may contain critical control logic and design files
Exploitability
Low exploit probability (EPSS 0.1%)
Affected products (1)
ProductAffected VersionsFix Status
Arena: <=16.20.08≤ 16.20.0816.20.09 or later
Remediation & Mitigation
0/4
Do now
0/1
HARDENINGRestrict physical and network access to engineering workstations running Arena to authorized personnel only
Schedule — requires maintenance window
0/1

Patching may require device reboot — plan for process interruption

HOTFIXUpgrade Rockwell Automation Arena to version 16.20.09 or later
Long-term hardening
0/2
HARDENINGTrain users to avoid opening files from untrusted sources and to be cautious of social engineering attempts via email
HARDENINGImplement Rockwell Automation security best practices, including strong access controls and logging on engineering systems
View full CISA ICS-CERT advisory
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