CVE-2022-24281 is a medium-severity SQL Injection vulnerability affecting Siemens SINEC NMS versions prior to 1.0.3 and SINEMA Server V14. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands (CWE-89), allowing a privileged authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary commands directly on the local database by sending specially crafted requests to the webserver component of the affected application. This means that an attacker with valid credentials and elevated privileges can manipulate SQL queries processed by the backend database, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, data modification, or disruption of database operations. The attack vector requires authentication, which limits exploitation to users who already have some level of access, but the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the database can be significant. The vulnerability affects network management systems used primarily in industrial and critical infrastructure environments, where SINEC NMS and SINEMA Server are deployed to monitor and manage network devices. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date, and Siemens has not provided a patch link, indicating that remediation may require upgrading to version 1.0.3 or later or applying vendor-specific mitigations. The vulnerability was reserved in January 2022 and publicly disclosed in March 2022, with enrichment from CISA, highlighting its relevance to cybersecurity stakeholders.

For European organizations, especially those operating in critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, manufacturing, transportation, and utilities, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. SINEC NMS and SINEMA Server are widely used in industrial network management, and exploitation could allow attackers to manipulate network monitoring data, disrupt network operations, or gain deeper access to industrial control systems. This could lead to operational downtime, loss of sensitive operational data, and potential cascading effects on industrial processes. Given the requirement for privileged authentication, insider threats or compromised credentials could be leveraged to exploit this vulnerability. The impact on confidentiality includes unauthorized disclosure of sensitive network configuration and monitoring data. Integrity could be compromised by unauthorized modification of database records, potentially misleading operators or automated systems. Availability could be affected if malicious SQL commands disrupt database functionality or cause service outages. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for targeted attacks, especially in the context of increasing cyber threats against European industrial environments.

1. Upgrade affected Siemens SINEC NMS installations to version 1.0.3 or later where the vulnerability is addressed. 2. Restrict and monitor privileged user access to the webserver interface of SINEC NMS and SINEMA Server to reduce the risk of credential compromise or misuse. 3. Implement network segmentation and firewall rules to limit access to the management interfaces only to trusted administrative networks. 4. Employ strong authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), for all users with privileged access to the affected systems. 5. Conduct regular audits of user activities and database logs to detect anomalous or suspicious SQL queries indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. If upgrading is not immediately possible, consider deploying web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting the affected endpoints. 7. Educate administrators and operators about the risks of SQL injection and the importance of credential security. 8. Coordinate with Siemens support for any available patches, workarounds, or vendor advisories to ensure timely remediation.