# CVE-2021-40359: Path traversal in OpenPCS 7 V8.2

> Attackers can read critical files outside restricted directories via path traversal in Siemens SIMATIC software during file downloads.

- **Severity:** High 7.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:C`)
- **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:** 9 Nov 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6gc3-vp66-4fcm

## What is CVE-2021-40359?

CVE-2021-40359 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Siemens OpenPCS 7 V8.2, published on 9 Nov 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 OpenPCS 7 V8.2 (All versions), OpenPCS 7 V9.0 (All versions < V9.0 Upd4), OpenPCS 7 V9.1 (All versions), SIMATIC BATCH V8.2 (All versions), SIMATIC BATCH V9.0 (All versions), SIMATIC BATCH V9.1 (All versions), SIMATIC NET PC Software V14 (All versions), SIMATIC NET PC Software V15 (All versions), SIMATIC NET PC Software V16 (All versions < V16 Update 6), SIMATIC NET PC Software V17 (All versions < V17 SP1), SIMATIC PCS 7 V8.2 (All versions), SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.0 (All versions < V9.0 SP3 UC04), SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.1 (All versions < V9.1 SP1), SIMATIC Route Control V8.2 (All versions), SIMATIC Route Control V9.0 (All versions), SIMATIC Route Control V9.1 (All versions), SIMATIC WinCC V15 and earlier (All versions < V15 SP1 Update 7), SIMATIC WinCC V16 (All versions < V16 Update 5), SIMATIC WinCC V17 (All versions < V17 Update 2), SIMATIC WinCC V7.4 (All versions < V7.4 SP1 Update 19), SIMATIC WinCC V7.5 (All versions < V7.5 SP2 Update 5). When downloading files, the affected systems do not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname. An attacker could then cause the pathname to resolve to a location outside of the restricted directory on the server and read unexpected critical files.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-40359?

It affects 5 products.


Products: Siemens Simatic Batch, Siemens Simatic Net Pc, Siemens Simatic Route Control, Siemens Simatic Wincc, Siemens Simaticpcs 7.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-40359?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-40359 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-40359 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-40359 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Siemens OpenPCS 7 V8.2

- [CVE-2016-5743](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5743/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-40359 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-40359 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Siemens OpenPCS 7 V8.2, published on 9 Nov 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-2021-40359 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Siemens OpenPCS 7 V8.2. 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-2021-40359/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40359/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-40359
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-40359
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-40359

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40359/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.