SINEC INS: Use of a One-Way Hash with a Predictable Salt
CVE-2026-46749 is a critical-severity use of a one-way hash with a predictable salt vulnerability in SINEC INS from Siemens, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version V1.0 SP2 Update 6 as the first without the flaw, so updating SINEC INS to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.12% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Update SINEC INS to V1.0 SP2 Update 6 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on cert-portal.siemens.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
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
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- 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:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 5.0 | Medium | CNA (siemens.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.5 | High | CNA (siemens.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.8 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
A vulnerability has been identified in SINEC INS (All versions < V1.0 SP2 Update 6). The affected application uses a password hashing implementation with a static, hardcoded salt shared across all users and installations, and is configured with an insufficient number of iterations. This could allow an attacker to efficiently recover user passwords using brute-force or precomputed attacks, potentially resulting in unauthorized access.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use of a One-Way Hash with a Predictable Salt
The product uses a one-way cryptographic hash against an input that should not be reversible, such as a password, but the product uses a predictable salt as part of the input.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- If a technique that requires extra computational effort can not be implemented, then for each password that is processed, generate a new random salt using a strong random number generator with unpredictable seeds. Add the salt to the plaintext password before hashing it. When storing the hash, also store the salt. Do not use the same salt for every password.
More Use of a One-Way Hash with a Predictable Salt vulnerabilities (CWE-760)
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
Other vulnerabilities in SINEC INS
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
Recent Use of a One-Way Hash with a Predictable Salt vulnerabilities
- 7.6 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.