# CVE-2020-25238: Privilege escalation in PCS neo (Administration Console)

> A local attacker with limited access can manipulate files to execute code with SYSTEM privileges in Siemens PCS neo and TIA Portal.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 9 Feb 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xj9q-pj74-p2j4

## What is CVE-2020-25238?

CVE-2020-25238 is a high-severity vulnerability in Siemens PCS neo (Administration Console), published on 9 Feb 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability has been identified in PCS neo (Administration Console) (All versions < V3.1), TIA Portal (V15, V15.1 and V16). Manipulating certain files in specific folders could allow a local attacker to execute code with SYSTEM privileges. The security vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker with a valid account and limited access rights on the system.

Weakness: CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element), CWE-284 (Improper Access Control)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-25238?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Siemens Simatic Process Control System Neo, Siemens Totally Integrated Automation Portal.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-25238?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-25238 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-25238 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-25238 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-25238 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-25238 is a high-severity vulnerability in Siemens PCS neo (Administration Console), published on 9 Feb 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-25238 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Siemens PCS neo (Administration Console). No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-25238/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-25238/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-25238
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-25238
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-25238

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-25238/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.