CVE-2025-24346 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the ctrlX OS - Device Admin web application developed by Bosch Rexroth AG. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of the syntactic correctness of input (CWE-1286) within the “Proxy” functionality of the web application. Specifically, a remote attacker with low-privileged authenticated access can craft a malicious HTTP request to manipulate the "/etc/environment" file on the underlying system. This file typically contains environment variables that influence system and application behavior. By modifying this file, an attacker could potentially alter environment variables to escalate privileges, execute arbitrary code, or disrupt system operations. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of ctrlX OS, including 1.12.0, 1.20.0, and 2.6.0. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5, indicating a high severity level, with the vector string showing network attack vector (AV:N), high attack complexity (AC:H), low privileges required (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability requires authentication but only low privileges, which increases the risk in environments where user credentials may be compromised or where low-privileged users have access to the web interface. The improper input validation allows manipulation of a critical system file, which can lead to full system compromise or persistent backdoors, severely impacting industrial control systems relying on ctrlX OS for device administration and automation tasks.

For European organizations, especially those in industrial automation, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure sectors using Bosch Rexroth's ctrlX OS, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized system configuration changes, privilege escalation, and potential disruption of industrial processes. This could result in operational downtime, safety hazards, intellectual property theft, and regulatory non-compliance. Given the critical role of ctrlX OS in device administration, attackers could gain persistent access or cause denial of service, impacting production lines and supply chains. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means sensitive operational data could be exposed or manipulated, undermining trust and causing financial and reputational damage. The requirement for low-privileged authentication means insider threats or compromised credentials could be leveraged, increasing the attack surface. European organizations operating in sectors governed by strict cybersecurity regulations such as NIS2 or GDPR must prioritize addressing this vulnerability to avoid legal and compliance repercussions.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting access to the ctrlX OS Device Admin web interface to trusted networks and users only, employing network segmentation and strong access controls. 2. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3. Monitor and audit user activities on the web application to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 4. Since no official patches are currently available, consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block malicious HTTP requests targeting the Proxy functionality. 5. Conduct thorough input validation and sanitization on all user inputs at the application layer as a temporary internal control if possible. 6. Prepare for rapid patch deployment once Bosch Rexroth releases an official fix by maintaining an up-to-date inventory of affected devices and versions. 7. Educate users with access to the system about the risks and signs of compromise. 8. Regularly back up critical configuration files, including "/etc/environment", and implement integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized changes. 9. Engage with Bosch Rexroth support channels for updates and guidance on remediation steps.