ABB Automation Builder  – All CISA Advisories

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1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• CVSS v4 8.5
• ATTENTION: Low attack complexity
• Vendor: ABB
• Equipment: Automation Builder
• Vulnerabilities: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource

2. RISK EVALUATION

Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to overrule the Automation Builder’s user management.

3. TECHNICAL DETAILS

3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS

The following versions of Automation Builder are affected:

• Automation Builder: All versions

3.2 VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW

3.2.1 INCORRECT PERMISSION ASSIGNMENT FOR CRITICAL RESOURCE CWE-732

The affected products store all user management information in the project file. Despite the password data being fully encrypted, an attacker could try to modify parts of the Automation Builder project file by specially crafting contents so the user management will be overruled.

CVE-2025-3394 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 7.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2025-3394. A base score of 8.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.2.2 INCORRECT PERMISSION ASSIGNMENT FOR CRITICAL RESOURCE CWE-732

Automation Builder projects, including AC500 V2 or SM560-S devices, contain the application files for these devices. An attacker could try to modify parts of these files so the project can be changed by overruling the Automation Builder user management.

CVE-2025-3395 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3 base score of 7.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).

A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2025-3395. A base score of 8.4 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).

3.3 BACKGROUND

• CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Energy
• COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide
• COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: Switzerland

3.4 RESEARCHER

Jiho Shin from Sungkyunkwan University reported these vulnerabilities to CISA.

4. MITIGATIONS

ABB recommends users apply the following workarounds:

For CVE-2025-3394:

• In the project settings, set “Security” to “Integrity” check.

For CVE-2025-3395:

• In the project settings, set “Security” to “Encryption.”

CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of these vulnerabilities, such as:

• Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and/or systems, ensuring they are not accessible from the Internet.
• Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls and isolating them from business networks.
• When remote access is required, use more secure methods, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), recognizing VPNs may have vulnerabilities and should be updated to the most current version available. Also recognize VPN is only as secure as the connected devices.

CISA reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures.

CISA also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS webpage on cisa.gov/ics. Several CISA products detailing cyber defense best practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies.

CISA encourages organizations to implement recommended cybersecurity strategies for proactive defense of ICS assets.

Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available on the ICS webpage at cisa.gov/ics in the technical information paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B–Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies.

Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.

No known public exploitation specifically targeting these vulnerabilities has been reported to CISA at this time. These vulnerabilities are not exploitable remotely.

5. UPDATE HISTORY

• May 13, 2025: Initial Publication

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