CVE-2025-9970 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-316, indicating cleartext storage of sensitive information in memory within ABB's MConfig software up to version 1.4.9.21. This flaw arises because sensitive data—potentially including credentials, configuration secrets, or cryptographic keys—is stored in memory without encryption or adequate protection. As a result, an attacker with local access to the system could extract this sensitive information by inspecting memory, increasing the risk of credential theft or unauthorized system manipulation. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:L/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:H) indicates that exploitation requires local access (AV:L), high attack complexity (AC:H), partial user interaction (UI:P), and partial privileges (PR:L). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity highly, with limited availability impact. No known exploits are reported in the wild, suggesting that exploitation is not trivial and likely requires targeted conditions. ABB MConfig is used in industrial automation and configuration management, making this vulnerability relevant to critical infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. The absence of patch links indicates that a fix may not yet be publicly available, emphasizing the need for proactive mitigation. The vulnerability does not affect network-facing components directly but poses a risk if attackers gain local or insider access.

For European organizations, especially those in industrial automation, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure sectors using ABB MConfig, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to confidentiality and integrity of sensitive operational data. Exposure of cleartext credentials or configuration secrets could enable attackers to escalate privileges, manipulate industrial processes, or disrupt operations. Given ABB's strong presence in Europe, particularly in countries with advanced manufacturing and energy sectors, the risk is heightened. The need for local access and user interaction limits widespread remote exploitation but insider threats or compromised endpoints could leverage this vulnerability. Potential impacts include unauthorized access to control systems, data breaches, and operational disruptions, which could have cascading effects on supply chains and critical services. The medium CVSS score reflects a moderate but non-negligible threat, especially in environments where strict physical and logical access controls are not enforced.

1. Restrict local access to systems running ABB MConfig to authorized personnel only, employing strict physical security and endpoint access controls. 2. Implement robust user authentication and session management to reduce the risk of unauthorized local access. 3. Monitor systems for unusual memory access patterns or attempts to dump process memory, using host-based intrusion detection systems. 4. Employ memory protection techniques such as Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) to complicate memory inspection attacks. 5. Segregate networks and limit user privileges to minimize the attack surface and reduce the impact of compromised accounts. 6. Engage with ABB for timely updates and patches addressing this vulnerability and plan for rapid deployment once available. 7. Conduct regular security training to raise awareness about the risks of local exploitation and the importance of safeguarding credentials and sensitive data. 8. Consider using endpoint encryption and secure credential storage solutions to complement software-level protections.