CVE-2022-46141 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been identified in SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) (All versions < V19) that could allow a local attacker to obtain the access level password of the SIMATIC S7-1200 and S7-1500 CPUs.

Understanding CVE-2022-46141

This section delves into the details of CVE-2022-46141.

What is CVE-2022-46141?

CVE-2022-46141 is an information disclosure vulnerability in SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) software, potentially enabling unauthorized access to access level passwords for specific CPUs.

The Impact of CVE-2022-46141

The vulnerability could be exploited by a malicious local attacker to retrieve sensitive access level passwords, compromising the security of the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-46141

This section outlines the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is related to cleartext storage of sensitive information in memory, categorized under CWE-316.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected systems include Siemens' SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal) with all versions below V19.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by a local attacker to gain access to access level passwords when entered by a legitimate user in the hardware configuration of the application.

Mitigation and Prevention

Explore the necessary steps to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2022-46141.

Immediate Steps to Take

Immediately update the affected software to version V19 or newer to address the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement regular security updates, conduct security audits, and educate users on best security practices to prevent similar incidents.

Patching and Updates

Frequently check for security patches released by Siemens and apply them promptly to ensure system security.