RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
CVE-2025-40949 is a critical-severity improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command vulnerability in RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000 from Siemens, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists version V2.17.1 as the first without the flaw, so updating RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000 to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.67% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 53% of scored CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000 to V2.17.1 or a later version.
- Update RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000RE to V2.17.1 or a later version.
- Update RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1400 to V2.17.1 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on cert-portal.siemens.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (siemens.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.9 | High | CNA (siemens.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.1 | Critical | CNA (siemens.com) |
Official description
A vulnerability has been identified in RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000 (All versions < V2.17.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000RE (All versions < V2.17.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1400 (All versions < V2.17.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1500 (All versions < V2.17.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1501 (All versions < V2.17.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1510 (All versions < V2.17.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1511 (All versions < V2.17.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1512 (All versions < V2.17.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1524 (All versions < V2.17.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1536 (All versions < V2.17.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX5000 (All versions < V2.17.1). Affected devices do not properly sanitize user-supplied input in the Scheduler functionality of the Web UI, allowing commands to be injected into the task scheduling backend. This could allow an authenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges on the underlying operating system.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command
The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command before it is sent to a downstream component.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- If at all possible, use library calls rather than external processes to recreate the desired functionality.
- For any data that will be used to generate a command to be executed, keep as much of that data out of external control as possible. For example, in web applications, this may require storing the data locally in the session's state instead of sending it out to the client in a hidden form field.
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
More Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities (CWE-78)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Advisories
Other vulnerabilities in RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
Recent Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command vulnerabilities
- 7.2 High severity
- 9.3 Critical severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
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