CVE-2025-41647 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Lenze's PLC Designer V4 software, specifically related to the cleartext storage and display of sensitive information. The vulnerability arises from an incorrect implementation in the software that causes the password of the connected programmable logic controller (PLC) to be displayed in plain text under certain conditions. This flaw allows a local attacker with low privileges on the system running PLC Designer V4 to extract the controller's password without requiring user interaction. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-312, which pertains to the cleartext storage of sensitive information. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium impact primarily on confidentiality, with no impact on integrity or availability. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and the scope remains unchanged (S:U). This means an attacker must have some level of access to the host machine but does not need elevated privileges or social engineering to exploit the flaw. The vulnerability does not currently have any known exploits in the wild, and no patches have been published at the time of analysis. The affected product, PLC Designer V4, is used for programming and configuring Lenze PLCs, which are industrial control devices commonly deployed in manufacturing and automation environments. The exposure of controller passwords can lead to unauthorized access to industrial control systems, potentially compromising operational security and safety. Since the password is revealed only under special conditions, exploitation may require specific steps or knowledge of the software's behavior, but the lack of user interaction and low privilege requirements lower the barrier for exploitation once local access is obtained.

For European organizations, especially those in manufacturing, industrial automation, and critical infrastructure sectors, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to operational technology (OT) security. Lenze PLCs are widely used in European industrial environments, including automotive, packaging, and factory automation sectors. Unauthorized disclosure of controller passwords can enable attackers to manipulate PLC configurations, disrupt industrial processes, or conduct espionage by accessing sensitive operational data. Although the vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach can be a stepping stone for further attacks, including lateral movement within OT networks or sabotage. The requirement for local access limits remote exploitation but insider threats or attackers who gain foothold on engineering workstations could leverage this vulnerability. Given the strategic importance of industrial automation in Europe’s economy and the increasing convergence of IT and OT networks, this vulnerability could have cascading effects on production continuity and safety. Organizations relying on Lenze PLC Designer V4 should consider this vulnerability a moderate risk that warrants prompt attention to prevent potential compromise of industrial controllers.

1. Restrict and monitor local access to systems running PLC Designer V4 to trusted personnel only, implementing strict access controls and session monitoring on engineering workstations. 2. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect suspicious activities indicative of password extraction attempts or unauthorized access to PLC Designer software. 3. Segregate OT engineering networks from corporate IT networks using network segmentation and firewalls to reduce the risk of attackers gaining local access to vulnerable systems. 4. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) on workstations and systems where possible to reduce the risk of unauthorized local access. 5. Regularly audit and rotate PLC controller passwords to limit the window of exposure if a password is compromised. 6. Since no patch is currently available, consider using virtual machines or isolated environments for PLC Designer usage to contain potential exploitation. 7. Educate engineering and operations staff about the risks of local credential exposure and enforce policies against installing unauthorized software or plugins that could facilitate exploitation. 8. Monitor vendor communications closely for forthcoming patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and plan for immediate deployment once available.