CVE-2022-41670 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) found in Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Operator Terminal Expert and Pro-face BLUE products, specifically affecting version 3.3 Hotfix 1 or prior. The vulnerability resides in the SGIUtility component, which improperly restricts pathname inputs, allowing a local user with limited privileges to perform a path traversal attack. This enables the attacker to load a malicious Dynamic Link Library (DLL) file from an arbitrary location on the file system. Successful exploitation results in the execution of arbitrary malicious code with the privileges of the affected application. The vulnerability requires local access with low privileges, does not require user interaction, and has a high complexity due to the need for local access and some conditions to exploit. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.0, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no known exploits are reported in the wild, the potential for code execution makes this a significant threat, especially in industrial control environments where EcoStruxure Operator Terminal Expert is deployed. The affected products are widely used in industrial automation and control systems, which are critical infrastructure components in manufacturing, energy, and utilities sectors.

For European organizations, especially those in critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and utilities, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution on operator terminals, potentially disrupting industrial processes, causing downtime, or enabling further lateral movement within the network. The compromise of operator terminals could also lead to manipulation or sabotage of industrial control systems, impacting operational integrity and safety. Given the widespread use of Schneider Electric products across Europe, the vulnerability could affect a broad range of organizations, from small manufacturing plants to large energy providers. The local access requirement somewhat limits remote exploitation, but insider threats or attackers who gain initial footholds could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and compromise critical systems. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability underscores the potential for severe operational and financial consequences, including regulatory penalties under EU cybersecurity and data protection frameworks.

Apply the latest patches or hotfixes provided by Schneider Electric as soon as they become available, prioritizing updates to EcoStruxure Operator Terminal Expert and Pro-face BLUE beyond version 3.3 Hotfix 1. Implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges on systems running the affected software, ensuring only authorized personnel have access to operator terminals. Use application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized DLLs from loading, restricting execution to only trusted and signed binaries. Monitor and audit local user activities on operator terminals to detect unusual file access patterns or attempts to load unauthorized DLLs. Segment industrial control networks from corporate IT networks to reduce the risk of lateral movement by attackers who gain local access. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions tailored for industrial environments to identify and respond to suspicious behaviors related to DLL loading or code execution. Conduct regular security awareness training for personnel with local access to industrial control systems, emphasizing the risks of local privilege misuse. Review and harden system configurations to minimize the attack surface, including disabling unnecessary services and enforcing least privilege principles.