Siemens Software Center Uncontrolled Search Path Element
CVE-2026-110936 is a medium-severity uncontrolled search path element vulnerability in Siemens Software Center from Siemens, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.7 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists version V4.0.9.8 as the first without the flaw, so updating Siemens Software Center to that release or later removes the exposure. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on October 20, 2026, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.
Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.
What to do
- Update Siemens Software Center to V4.0.9.8 or a later version.
- Update Software Center to 4.0.9.8 or a later version.
- CISA's required action: Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.
- Read the advisory on cert-portal.siemens.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siemens | Siemens Software Center | before V4.0.9.8 | V4.0.9.8 |
| Siemens | Software Center | before 4.0.9.8 | 4.0.9.8 |
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
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- 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
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- 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:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (siemens.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.4 | High | CNA (siemens.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 6.7 | Medium | CNA (siemens.com) |
Official description
A vulnerability has been identified in Siemens Software Center (All versions < V4.0.9.8). The affected application loads dynamic-link libraries (DLLs) from an uncontrolled search path. This could allow an authenticated local attacker to place a specially crafted DLL in a directory that the application searches, leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected application.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Uncontrolled Search Path Element
The product uses a fixed or controlled search path to find resources, but one or more locations in that path can be under the control of unintended actors.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Hard-code the search path to a set of known-safe values (such as system directories), or only allow them to be specified by the administrator in a configuration file. Do not allow these settings to be modified by an external party. Be careful to avoid related weaknesses such as CWE-426 and CWE-428.
- When invoking other programs, specify those programs using fully-qualified pathnames. While this is an effective approach, code that uses fully-qualified pathnames might not be portable to other systems that do not use the same pathnames. The portability can be improved by locating the full-qualified paths in a centralized, easily-modifiable location within the source code, and having the code refer to these paths.
- Remove or restrict all environment settings before invoking other programs. This includes the PATH environment variable, LD_LIBRARY_PATH, and other settings that identify the location of code libraries, and any application-specific search paths.
More Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerabilities (CWE-427)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
- Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
References
Advisories
Third-party and government advisories
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2026-110936US Government Resource
Our coverage
Other vulnerabilities in Siemens Software Center
- 7.8 High severity
Recent Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerabilities
- 8.6 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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