# CVE-2021-37173: Privilege escalation in RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000

> An authenticated remote attacker can escalate privileges to root via insufficient file operation restrictions in the CLI of Siemens RUGGEDCOM ROX devices.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/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:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Sep 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-59r2-367p-xv4j

## What is CVE-2021-37173?

CVE-2021-37173 is a high-severity vulnerability in Siemens RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000, published on 14 Sep 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability has been identified in RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000 (All versions < V2.14.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1400 (All versions < V2.14.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1500 (All versions < V2.14.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1501 (All versions < V2.14.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1510 (All versions < V2.14.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1511 (All versions < V2.14.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1512 (All versions < V2.14.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1524 (All versions < V2.14.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1536 (All versions < V2.14.1), RUGGEDCOM ROX RX5000 (All versions < V2.14.1). The command line interface of affected devices insufficiently restrict file read and write operations for low privileged users. This could allow an authenticated remote attacker to escalate privileges and gain root access to the device.

Weakness: CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-37173?

It affects 10 products.


Products: Siemens Ruggedcom Rox Mx5000 Firmware, Siemens Ruggedcom Rox Rx1400 Firmware, Siemens Ruggedcom Rox Rx1500 Firmware, Siemens Ruggedcom Rox Rx1501 Firmware, Siemens Ruggedcom Rox Rx1510 Firmware, Siemens Ruggedcom Rox Rx1511 Firmware, Siemens Ruggedcom Rox Rx1512 Firmware, Siemens Ruggedcom Rox Rx1524 Firmware, Siemens Ruggedcom Rox Rx1536 Firmware, Siemens Ruggedcom Rox Rx5000 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-37173?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-37173 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-37173 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-37173 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Siemens RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000

- [CVE-2023-36750](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-36750/): Command injection in RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000 (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2023-36751](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-36751/): Command injection in RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000 (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2023-36752](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-36752/): Command injection in RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000 (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2023-36753](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-36753/): Command injection in RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000 (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2023-36754](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-36754/): Command injection in RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000 (critical 9.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-37173 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-37173 is a high-severity vulnerability in Siemens RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000, published on 14 Sep 2021. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-37173 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Siemens RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000. 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-2021-37173/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-37173/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-37173
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-37173
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-37173

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-37173/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.