CVE-2025-11696 is a vulnerability identified in Rockwell Automation's Studio 5000® Simulation Interface™ versions 2.02 and earlier. The flaw is categorized under CWE-22, indicating improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as a path traversal vulnerability. This vulnerability manifests as a local server-side request forgery (SSRF) issue within the product's API, allowing any Windows user on the affected system to initiate outbound Server Message Block (SMB) requests. By triggering these SMB requests, an attacker can capture NTLM authentication hashes, which can be used for credential replay or cracking attacks, potentially leading to unauthorized access and lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability does not require prior authentication or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. The CVSS 4.0 base score of 8.9 reflects a high severity, with significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability affects local users, meaning that an attacker must have some level of access to the system, but no elevated privileges are necessary. The root cause is the insufficient validation and restriction of pathnames in the API, allowing traversal beyond intended directories and enabling SSRF attacks. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the potential for abuse in industrial control system environments is considerable, given the critical nature of the affected product. Rockwell Automation Studio 5000® is widely used in industrial automation, particularly in manufacturing and critical infrastructure sectors, making this vulnerability a significant concern for organizations relying on these systems.

The impact of CVE-2025-11696 on European organizations is substantial, especially those involved in industrial automation, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure. Exploitation allows local attackers to capture NTLM hashes via outbound SMB requests, which can lead to credential theft and unauthorized access to sensitive systems. This can facilitate lateral movement within networks, potentially compromising operational technology (OT) environments and disrupting industrial processes. The confidentiality of credentials and sensitive data is at risk, as is the integrity and availability of automation systems if attackers leverage stolen credentials to manipulate or disable control systems. European organizations often integrate Rockwell Automation products into their industrial control systems, making them prime targets. The vulnerability's local nature means insider threats or compromised endpoints could exploit it, increasing the risk of internal breaches. Given the high CVSS score and the critical role of affected systems, the potential for operational disruption and financial loss is significant. Additionally, regulatory compliance risks arise if organizations fail to adequately protect critical infrastructure, potentially leading to legal and reputational consequences.

To mitigate CVE-2025-11696, European organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Apply patches or updates from Rockwell Automation as soon as they become available to address the vulnerability directly. 2) Restrict local user privileges on systems running Studio 5000® Simulation Interface™ to minimize the risk of exploitation by non-privileged users. 3) Implement network segmentation and isolate simulation environments from production networks to limit the impact of any compromise. 4) Monitor outbound SMB traffic for unusual or unauthorized connections that may indicate exploitation attempts, using network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) or security information and event management (SIEM) tools. 5) Enforce strict access controls and auditing on systems hosting the vulnerable software to detect and prevent unauthorized access. 6) Educate internal users about the risks of local exploitation and enforce policies to prevent unauthorized software installation or execution. 7) Consider disabling or restricting the API features that allow outbound SMB requests if feasible within operational constraints. 8) Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing focused on industrial control systems to identify and remediate similar weaknesses proactively.