Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-44318

Exposed Creds in Siemens 6Gk5205-3Bb00-2Ab2 Firmware ≤ 4.5

Published
14 November 2023
Modified
14 January 2025
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v4 6.9
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
EPSS Score 0.0069 49th percentile
Risk Priority 29 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-44318 is a medium-severity Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key (CWE-321) vulnerability in Siemens 6Gk5205-3Bb00-2Ab2 Firmware. Its CVSS base score is 6.9 (Medium).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Private Keys (T1552.004); ranked at the 49th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Affected devices use a hardcoded key to obfuscate the configuration backup that an administrator can export from the device. This could allow an authenticated attacker with administrative privileges or an attacker that obtains a configuration backup to extract configuration information…

more

from the exported file.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1552.004 Private Keys Credential Access
Adversaries may search for private key certificate files on compromised systems for insecurely stored credentials.
T1552 Unsecured Credentials Credential Access
Adversaries may search compromised systems to find and obtain insecurely stored credentials.
T1552.001 Credentials In Files Credential Access
Adversaries may search local file systems and remote file shares for files containing insecurely stored credentials.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-44319Same product: Siemens 6Ag1206-2Bb00-7Ac2
CVE-2023-44320Same product: Siemens 6Ag1206-2Bb00-7Ac2
CVE-2023-44373Same product: Siemens 6Ag1206-2Bb00-7Ac2
CVE-2023-44374Same product: Siemens 6Ag1206-2Bb00-7Ac2
CVE-2024-46889Same vendor: Siemens
CVE-2023-44322Same product: Siemens 6Ag1206-2Bb00-7Ac2
CVE-2023-44321Same product: Siemens 6Ag1206-2Bb00-7Ac2
CVE-2024-22045Same vendor: Siemens
CVE-2024-32740Same vendor: Siemens
CVE-2026-33893Same vendor: Siemens

Affected Assets

siemens
6gk5205-3bb00-2ab2 firmware
≤ 4.5
siemens
6gk5205-3bb00-2tb2 firmware
≤ 4.5
siemens
6gk5205-3bd00-2tb2 firmware
≤ 4.5
siemens
6gk5205-3bd00-2ab2 firmware
≤ 4.5
siemens
6gk5205-3bf00-2tb2 firmware
≤ 4.5
siemens
6gk5205-3bf00-2ab2 firmware
≤ 4.5
siemens
6gk5208-0ba00-2tb2 firmware
≤ 4.5
siemens
6gk5208-0ba00-2ab2 firmware
≤ 4.5
siemens
6gk5213-3bd00-2tb2 firmware
≤ 4.5
siemens
6gk5213-3bd00-2ab2 firmware
≤ 4.5
+61 more product configuration(s) — see NVD for full list

Mitigating Controls

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-321

Supply chain protection includes scrutiny of cryptographic implementations, reducing hard-coded keys planted by untrusted vendors.

addresses: CWE-321

Functional and assurance requirements specified in acquisition can prohibit hard-coded cryptographic keys in delivered products.

addresses: CWE-321

Proper key establishment and management processes directly preclude embedding static cryptographic keys in source code or binaries.

addresses: CWE-321

Approved PKI issuance and trust stores replace ad-hoc or hard-coded keys with properly managed, signed certificates.

addresses: CWE-321

Assessments can uncover and prevent suppliers from shipping components that contain hard-coded cryptographic keys.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure-SDLC activities such as code review and secret scanning directly prevent embedding static keys.

PR.DS-01 partial match
prevents

Data-at-rest protection policies require proper key management and therefore discourage hard-coded keys.

PR.DS-02 partial match
prevents

Data-in-transit protection similarly depends on non-hard-coded keys for encryption.

PR.PS-01 partial match
prevents

Configuration baselines and reviews can prohibit hard-coded keys in deployed artifacts.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

prevents

Key-management controls that govern generation, rotation and protection of keys make the use of embedded hard-coded cryptographic keys less likely and easier to detect.

References