CVE-2026-94293 in AAS Edge Client
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2026
An unauthenticated remote attacker can modify Asset Administration Shell submodel data via PATCH requests and can read all data exposed by the GET endpoints.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2026
The vulnerability described constitutes a critical security flaw within an implementation of the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) specification, which is a standard framework for digital twins in Industry 4.0 environments. The core issue lies in the absence of proper authentication and authorization mechanisms on the RESTful API endpoints that manage submodel data. Specifically, the system fails to verify the identity or privileges of any client attempting to interact with these resources, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers full access to both read and write operations. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege and secure by design principles, exposing sensitive industrial asset information to potential compromise without any barrier.
From a technical perspective, the flaw involves improper access control on HTTP methods associated with submodel management. The GET endpoints are configured to return all data exposed by the API without requiring an authentication token or session validation. This allows an attacker to enumerate and extract potentially confidential operational parameters, configuration settings, or proprietary process data simply by sending standard HTTP requests from a remote location. Furthermore, the PATCH endpoint is similarly unprotected, enabling attackers to modify submodel attributes arbitrarily. Since AAS structures are often used to represent physical assets in manufacturing or logistics chains, unauthorized modification of this data can lead to significant operational disruptions, incorrect decision-making based on corrupted telemetry, or manipulation of digital twin states that mirror real-world machinery behavior.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage. In industrial control systems and IoT ecosystems where Asset Administration Shells are deployed, the integrity of submodel data is paramount for automated processes. An attacker who can modify these records could inject false sensor readings, alter maintenance schedules, or change operational thresholds, potentially leading to physical damage, safety hazards, or production downtime. The ability to read all exposed data also facilitates further reconnaissance, allowing adversaries to map out the system architecture and identify other potential attack vectors within the broader industrial network. This scenario aligns with CWE-284 Improper Access Control and CWE-359 Exposure of Private Information to an Unauthorized Actor, highlighting both the authorization failure and the resulting information disclosure.
In terms of threat modeling, this vulnerability maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to unauthorized access and data exfiltration. Specifically, it corresponds to T1078 Valid Accounts if we consider that no account is required, effectively bypassing authentication controls entirely, which can be categorized under broader categories like Initial Access or Persistence depending on the attacker's intent. The ability to modify data via PATCH requests also relates to T1565 Data Manipulation, where an adversary alters stored information to achieve their objectives. These techniques are particularly dangerous in OT (Operational Technology) environments because they bridge the gap between IT security failures and physical operational consequences.
To mitigate this vulnerability, immediate remediation steps must focus on implementing robust authentication and authorization mechanisms for all API endpoints. This includes enforcing mutual TLS or OAuth 2.0/JWT-based authentication to ensure that only verified clients can access submodel data. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) should be deployed to restrict PATCH operations to users with specific write permissions, while GET requests might still require authentication but could have broader read privileges for authorized roles. Additionally, input validation and rate limiting should be applied to prevent abuse of the API endpoints. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on API security are essential to ensure that such gaps do not persist in production environments, especially given the increasing adoption of AAS standards in critical infrastructure sectors.