CVE-2025-40583 in SCALANCE LPE9403
Summary
by MITRE • 05/13/2025
A vulnerability has been identified in SCALANCE LPE9403 (6GK5998-3GS00-2AC2) (All versions with SINEMA Remote Connect Edge Client installed). Affected devices do transmit sensitive information in cleartext. This could allow a privileged local attacker to retrieve this sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2025-40583 affects the SCALANCE LPE9403 industrial device running SINEMA Remote Connect Edge Client software, representing a critical security weakness in industrial control systems. This device operates within industrial environments where network security is paramount for operational technology infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from the improper handling of sensitive data transmission, where confidential information flows through the network without adequate encryption protection. The affected device model SCALANCE LPE9403 is part of Siemens' industrial networking portfolio designed for remote connectivity in harsh industrial environments, making it a potential target for adversaries seeking to compromise industrial control systems.
The technical flaw manifests as cleartext transmission of sensitive information across network connections, which directly violates fundamental security principles for data protection in transit. This vulnerability creates an attack surface where local privileged users can exploit the insecure communication channels to intercept and retrieve confidential data. The cleartext transmission exposes authentication credentials, configuration parameters, operational data, and other sensitive information that flows through the device's network interfaces. This weakness specifically impacts the SINEMA Remote Connect Edge Client component, which facilitates remote access and management capabilities for industrial systems. The vulnerability represents a failure to implement proper cryptographic protections during data transmission, leaving the industrial network infrastructure exposed to passive eavesdropping attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to potentially compromise the integrity and availability of industrial control systems. A privileged local attacker with access to the device can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive operational data, potentially leading to system compromise, unauthorized control actions, or information disclosure that could affect industrial processes. The vulnerability undermines the security posture of industrial environments where these devices are deployed, as the cleartext transmission creates opportunities for attackers to gather intelligence about system configurations, network topologies, and operational parameters. This exposure could enable more sophisticated attacks targeting the broader industrial control network, potentially affecting production processes, safety systems, and overall operational continuity.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability by enforcing encryption protocols for all network communications involving the affected devices. The recommended approach includes deploying network segmentation to isolate critical industrial systems, implementing strong authentication mechanisms, and ensuring that all communication channels utilize encrypted protocols such as TLS or SSL. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that sensitive information is properly encrypted during transmission. System administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary remote access capabilities and implementing strict access controls to limit local user privileges. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and represents a significant concern for industrial cybersecurity frameworks, particularly those following NIST SP 800-82 guidelines for industrial control systems security. The ATT&CK framework would classify this vulnerability under T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) and T1566 (Phishing) as potential attack vectors for information gathering, while also supporting T1046 (Network Service Scanning) for reconnaissance activities. Organizations must prioritize updating their industrial security postures and implementing comprehensive network security controls to prevent exploitation of such cleartext transmission vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure environments.