CVE-2025-14850 identifies a directory traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) in Advantech WebAccess/SCADA version 9.2.1, a widely used industrial control system (ICS) platform. The flaw arises from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied file path inputs, allowing an attacker with low-level privileges (PR:L) and no user interaction (UI:N) to traverse directories outside the intended scope. This traversal enables deletion of arbitrary files on the host system, impacting the integrity and availability of the SCADA environment. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), increasing the risk of exploitation. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the potential for disruption in critical infrastructure environments is significant. The vulnerability could be leveraged to remove configuration files, logs, or executable components, causing system instability or denial of service. The CVSS 3.1 vector (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H) reflects high impact on integrity and availability without affecting confidentiality. The lack of user interaction and low complexity make this a serious threat for organizations relying on Advantech WebAccess/SCADA for industrial automation and monitoring.

For European organizations, especially those in critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, manufacturing, transportation, and utilities, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to deletion of critical files, resulting in operational disruptions, loss of control over industrial processes, and potential safety hazards. The integrity and availability of SCADA systems are paramount for maintaining continuous industrial operations; thus, this vulnerability could cause downtime, financial losses, and damage to reputation. Given the remote network exploitability and low complexity, attackers could leverage this flaw to conduct targeted attacks or automated campaigns. The absence of confidentiality impact reduces risk of data leakage but does not diminish the threat to operational continuity. European organizations with limited patch management capabilities or exposed SCADA interfaces are particularly vulnerable. Additionally, regulatory compliance frameworks such as NIS2 Directive emphasize the need to secure critical infrastructure, making timely remediation essential to avoid legal and regulatory consequences.

1. Monitor Advantech’s official channels for patches or updates addressing CVE-2025-14850 and apply them promptly once released. 2. Restrict network access to the WebAccess/SCADA management interfaces using firewalls, VPNs, or network segmentation to limit exposure to trusted personnel only. 3. Implement strict file system permissions on SCADA servers to minimize the ability of low-privileged users to delete critical files. 4. Conduct regular audits of access logs and file integrity monitoring to detect suspicious activities indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. Employ intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) tuned to detect anomalous directory traversal patterns or unauthorized file deletions. 6. Train operational technology (OT) security teams on this vulnerability to enhance incident response readiness. 7. Consider deploying application-layer gateways or web application firewalls (WAFs) that can filter malicious path traversal payloads targeting the SCADA web interface. 8. Review and harden authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure minimal privilege principles are enforced.