CVE-2024-33489 in Solid Edge
Summary
by MITRE • 05/14/2024
A vulnerability has been identified in Solid Edge (All versions < V224.0 Update 5). The affected application is vulnerable to heap-based buffer overflow while parsing specially crafted PAR files. This could allow an attacker to execute code in the context of the current process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2024-33489 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in Siemens Solid Edge software versions prior to V224.0 Update 5. This issue manifests during the parsing of specially crafted PAR files, which are typically used for storing design data and configuration parameters within the Solid Edge ecosystem. The vulnerability resides in the application's file parsing mechanism where insufficient bounds checking occurs when processing maliciously formatted PAR file structures. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting PAR files that exceed the allocated buffer space, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic heap overflow pattern where the application fails to validate input lengths before copying data into fixed-size buffers allocated on the heap. When Solid Edge processes the malformed PAR file, the insufficient boundary checks cause data to overwrite adjacent memory regions, potentially corrupting heap metadata or executable code pointers. This memory corruption can be manipulated to redirect program execution flow, allowing attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the Solid Edge process context. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application level without requiring elevated privileges, making it accessible to attackers who can convince users to open malicious files.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-33489 extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant threat to industrial design environments where Solid Edge is extensively used for computer-aided design and manufacturing processes. Organizations utilizing Solid Edge for product development, engineering design, or manufacturing planning face potential compromise of sensitive intellectual property and design data. The vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering campaigns targeting engineers and designers who may inadvertently open malicious PAR files, potentially leading to full system compromise. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malware within the engineering network environment.
Security mitigations for CVE-2024-33489 should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of Siemens' official patch for Solid Edge V224.0 Update 5. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to Solid Edge environments and deploy file integrity monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized PAR file modifications. Input validation controls should be enforced at network boundaries to filter potentially malicious files before they reach engineering workstations. Additionally, security awareness training for design teams can help prevent social engineering exploitation attempts. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow patterns and represents a technique commonly associated with the attack chain described in MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized software within engineering environments, reducing the attack surface for such exploitation techniques.