Hitachi Energy XMC20

Posted on Tuesday March 04, 2025

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

CVSS v4 6.9
ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely/low attack complexity
Vendor: Hitachi Energy
Equipment: XMC20
Vulnerability: Relative Path Traversal

2. RISK EVALUATION

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to access files or directories outside the authorized scope.

3. TECHNICAL DETAILS

3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS

Hitachi Energy reports that the following products are affected:

XMC20: R15A and prior including all subversions
XMC20: R15B
XMC20: R16A
XMC20: R16B Revision C (cent2_r16b04_02,
co5ne_r16b04_02) and older including all subversions

3.2 VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW

3.2.1 RELATIVE PATH TRAVERSAL CWE-23

Hitachi Energy is aware of a vulnerability that affects the XMC20. If exploited, an attacker could traverse the file system to access files or directories that would otherwise be inaccessible.

CVE-2024-2461 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 4.9 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for  CVE-2024-2461. A base score of 6.9 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.3 BACKGROUND

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Energy, Government Services and Facilities, Transportation Systems
COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide
COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: Switzerland

3.4 RESEARCHER

Darius Pavelescu and Bernhard Rader from Limes Security reported this vulnerability to Hitachi Energy.

4. MITIGATIONS

Hitachi Energy has identified the following specific workarounds and mitigations users can apply to reduce risk:

XMC20 R16B Revision C (cent2_r16b04_02, co5ne_r16b04_02) and older including all subversions: Update to XMC20 R16B Revision D, version (cent2_r16b04_07, co5ne_r16b04_07) and apply general mitigation factors. (Hitachi Energy recommends that users apply the update at the earliest convenience.)
XMC20 R15B: Recommended to update to XMC20 R16B Revision D, version (cent2_r16b04_07, co5ne_r16b04_07) and apply general mitigation factors.
XMC20 R15A and older including all subversions, XMC20 R16A: EOL versions - no remediation will be available. Recommended to update to XMC20 R16B Revision D, version (cent2_r16b04_07, co5ne_r16b04_07) and apply general mitigation factors.

The following product versions have been fixed:

XMC20 R16B Revision D, version (cent2_r16b04_07, co5ne_r16b04_07) is a fixed version.

For more information see the associated security advisory 8DBD000202 - Zip Slip Vulnerability in Hitachi Energy's XMC20.

Hitachi Energy recommends users implement recommended security practices and firewall configurations to help protect the process control network from attacks originating from outside the network. Process control systems should be physically protected from direct access by unauthorized personnel, have no direct connections to the Internet, and be separated from other networks by means of a firewall system with a minimal number of ports exposed. Process control systems should not be used for Internet surfing, instant messaging, or receiving e-mails. Portable computers and removable storage media should be carefully scanned for viruses before they are connected to a control system.

CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of this vulnerability. CISA reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures.

CISA also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS webpage on cisa.gov. Several CISA products detailing cyber defense best practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies.

CISA encourages organizations to implement recommended cybersecurity strategies for proactive defense of ICS assets.

Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available on the ICS webpage at cisa.gov in the technical information paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B--Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies.

Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.

No known public exploitation specifically targeting this vulnerability has been reported to CISA at this time.