CVE-2024-46887 is a medium-severity vulnerability identified in the Siemens SIMATIC Drive Controller CPU 1504D TF, specifically affecting its embedded web server. The vulnerability arises from improper authentication handling at the '/ClientArea/RuntimeInfoData.mwsl' endpoint. This endpoint fails to enforce proper user authentication, allowing an unauthenticated remote attacker to access sensitive operational data without credentials. The exposed information includes current actual cycle times, configured maximum cycle times, and configured maximum communication load parameters. These parameters are critical for understanding the performance and operational limits of the drive controller, which is a key component in industrial automation and manufacturing environments. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-288, which pertains to authentication bypass via alternate paths or channels. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3, indicating a medium severity level, with the vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and limited confidentiality impact (C:L) without integrity or availability impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was published on October 8, 2024, and was reserved on September 12, 2024. This flaw could be leveraged by attackers to gather intelligence about the device’s operational parameters, potentially aiding in further targeted attacks or reconnaissance activities within industrial control systems (ICS).

For European organizations, especially those operating in manufacturing, industrial automation, and critical infrastructure sectors, this vulnerability poses a risk of information disclosure that could facilitate more sophisticated attacks. The SIMATIC Drive Controller CPU 1504D TF is used in various industrial environments to control drive systems, and knowledge of cycle times and communication loads can help attackers understand system behavior and timing, which is valuable for planning denial-of-service attacks or manipulating control processes. Although the vulnerability does not directly allow control or disruption of the device, the leakage of operational data can undermine the confidentiality of industrial process parameters, potentially leading to intellectual property theft or aiding attackers in crafting more effective attacks. Given the critical role of industrial controllers in European manufacturing and infrastructure, exploitation could indirectly affect operational continuity and safety. The lack of required authentication and the ability to exploit this remotely increase the risk profile, especially in environments where these devices are exposed to less secure networks or insufficiently segmented industrial networks.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Network Segmentation: Isolate SIMATIC Drive Controllers from general IT networks and restrict access to the web server interface to trusted management networks only. 2) Access Control: Employ firewall rules and access control lists (ACLs) to limit inbound traffic to the affected endpoint, ideally blocking external access entirely. 3) Monitoring and Logging: Enable detailed logging on network devices and the controllers themselves to detect unauthorized access attempts to the '/ClientArea/RuntimeInfoData.mwsl' endpoint. 4) Vendor Coordination: Engage with Siemens for official patches or firmware updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 5) Incident Response Preparedness: Develop and test incident response plans specific to industrial control system vulnerabilities, including this authentication bypass scenario. 6) Use of VPNs or secure tunnels for remote access to industrial controllers to add an additional layer of authentication and encryption. 7) Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing focused on industrial control systems to identify and remediate similar issues proactively.