# CVE-2023-38640: Misconfiguration in SICAM PAS/PQS

> An authenticated local attacker can read and modify configuration data due to insecure file permissions in Siemens SICAM PAS/PQS.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C`)
- **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:** 10 Oct 2023
- **Updated:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vvhw-v3wp-4m8r

## What is CVE-2023-38640?

CVE-2023-38640 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Siemens SICAM PAS/PQS, published on 10 Oct 2023. 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 SICAM PAS/PQS (All versions >= V8.00 < V8.22). The affected application is installed with specific files and folders with insecure permissions. This could allow an authenticated local attacker to read and modify configuration data in the context of the application process.

Weakness: CWE-732 (Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-38640?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Siemens Sicam Pas\/Pqs.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-38640?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-38640 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-38640 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-38640 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Siemens SICAM PAS/PQS

- [CVE-2022-43724](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-43724/): Hardcoded credentials in SICAM PAS/PQS (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-8567](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8567/): Hardcoded credentials in Siemens SICAM PAS before 8.00 (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-9157](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-9157/): Denial of service in Siemens SICAM PAS through V8.08 (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-45205](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-45205/): Privilege escalation in SICAM PAS/PQS (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2022-43722](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-43722/): Code injection in SICAM PAS/PQS (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-38640 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-38640 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Siemens SICAM PAS/PQS, published on 10 Oct 2023. 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-2023-38640 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Siemens SICAM PAS/PQS. 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-2023-38640/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38640/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-38640
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38640
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-38640

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38640/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.