CVE-2024-48840 in ASPECT-Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE • 12/05/2024
Unauthorized Access vulnerabilities allow Remote Code Execution. Affected products:
ABB ASPECT - Enterprise v3.08.02; NEXUS Series v3.08.02; MATRIX Series v3.08.02
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-48840 represents a critical unauthorized access flaw within ABB's industrial automation software ecosystem, specifically affecting the ASPECT Enterprise v3.08.02, NEXUS Series v3.08.02, and MATRIX Series v3.08.02 product lines. This vulnerability stems from inadequate authentication mechanisms that permit remote attackers to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized access to critical industrial control systems. The flaw operates at the application layer and exploits weaknesses in the software's access control implementation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the authentication and authorization framework of ABB's industrial software platforms. The flaw allows remote code execution through unauthorized access points that should require proper authentication credentials and authorization levels. This represents a significant deviation from standard security practices and aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can leverage this weakness from external networks without requiring physical access to the industrial infrastructure, making it particularly dangerous for critical manufacturing and operational technology environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-48840 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential system compromise and operational disruption within industrial environments. Organizations utilizing these ABB product lines face substantial risk of unauthorized system modifications, data exfiltration, and potential operational downtime. The vulnerability affects industrial control systems that typically manage critical infrastructure operations, making the potential consequences severe and far-reaching. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to manipulate industrial processes, alter system configurations, or even cause physical damage to industrial equipment through unauthorized code execution.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through official patches provided by ABB, as the risk of exploitation increases with the sophistication of modern attack vectors. Organizations operating these industrial systems must implement network segmentation and monitoring controls to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK framework as a privilege escalation or initial access technique highlights the need for comprehensive security posture assessments. Mitigation strategies should include network access controls, regular security audits, and implementation of defense-in-depth strategies to protect against similar vulnerabilities in industrial control systems. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems and continuous monitoring solutions to detect anomalous access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts against this vulnerability.