Cyber Resilience

CVE-2024-51546

Exposed Creds in Abb Aspect-Ent-12 Firmware ≤ 3.08.03

Published
05 December 2024
Modified
10 April 2025
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v4 8.7
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:L/SI:L/SA:L/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 0.015 72th percentile
Risk Priority 56 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2024-51546 is a high-severity Improper Validation of Specified Type of Input (CWE-1287) vulnerability in Abb Aspect-Ent-12 Firmware. Its CVSS base score is 8.7 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Unsecured Credentials (T1552); ranked in the top 28% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SC-28 (Protection of Information at Rest) and SC-8 (Transmission Confidentiality and Integrity) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

CVE-2024-51546 is a credentials disclosure vulnerability that permits unauthorized access to onboard project backup bundles. It affects ABB ASPECT Enterprise, NEXUS Series, and MATRIX Series products, all at version 3.08.02. The issue is tracked under CWEs 1287 and 522 and carries a CVSS 4.0 score of 8.7, reflecting network-accessible exposure with no required authentication or user interaction and a primary impact on confidentiality.

An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit the flaw to retrieve sensitive credentials stored within the backup bundles, potentially enabling further compromise of the affected industrial control or building automation systems. The attack requires no special privileges or user interaction, consistent with the CVSS vector showing high confidentiality impact and limited secondary effects on integrity and availability.

ABB has published an advisory describing the issue and associated remediation steps at https://search.abb.com/library/Download.aspx?DocumentID=9AKK108469A7497&LanguageCode=en&DocumentPartId=&Action=Launch. The EPSS score has remained flat at 0.1707 since disclosure with no material upward trajectory observed.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Credentials Disclosure vulnerabilities allow access to on board project back-up bundles.  Affected products: ABB ASPECT - Enterprise v3.08.02; NEXUS Series v3.08.02; MATRIX Series v3.08.02

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

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.
T1021 Remote Services Lateral Movement
Adversaries may use [Valid Accounts](https://attack.
T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalation
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to elevate privileges.
T1078 Valid Accounts Stealth
Adversaries may obtain and abuse credentials of existing accounts as a means of gaining Initial Access, Persistence, Privilege Escalation, or Defense Evasion.
T1114.002 Remote Email Collection Collection
Adversaries may target an Exchange server, Office 365, or Google Workspace to collect sensitive information.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2024-51545Same product: Abb Aspect-Ent-12
CVE-2024-51551Same product: Abb Aspect-Ent-12
CVE-2024-6298Same product: Abb Aspect-Ent-12
CVE-2024-51550Same product: Abb Aspect-Ent-12
CVE-2024-51554Same product: Abb Aspect-Ent-12
CVE-2024-48845Same product: Abb Aspect-Ent-12
CVE-2024-51547Same product: Abb Aspect-Ent-12
CVE-2024-48847Same product: Abb Aspect-Ent-12
CVE-2023-0635Same product: Abb Aspect-Ent-12
CVE-2023-0636Same product: Abb Aspect-Ent-12

Affected Assets

abb
aspect-ent-12 firmware
≤ 3.08.03
abb
aspect-ent-2 firmware
≤ 3.08.03
abb
aspect-ent-256 firmware
≤ 3.08.03
abb
aspect-ent-96 firmware
≤ 3.08.03
abb
nexus-2128 firmware
≤ 3.08.03
abb
nexus-2128-a firmware
≤ 3.08.03
abb
nexus-2128-f firmware
≤ 3.08.03
abb
nexus-2128-g firmware
≤ 3.08.03
abb
nexus-264 firmware
≤ 3.08.03
abb
nexus-264-a firmware
≤ 3.08.03
+9 more product configuration(s) — see NVD for full list

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 1 hardening rule · 1 OS baseline
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.1.1
  • V1.4.2
  • V2.1.1
  • V2.2.2

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

Protection of information at rest requires encryption or equivalent safeguards for stored credentials.

Transmission confidentiality and integrity enforcement stops credentials from being sent in plaintext or without protection.

SI-10 directly requires validation of information inputs, which structurally prevents type-validation failures from being introduced or exploitable.

Authenticator management requires secure generation, storage, and distribution of credentials, directly stopping insecure methods.

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.DS-01 full match
prevents

Encrypting data-at-rest fully prevents insecure credential storage while only partially satisfying the broader data-protection outcome.

PR.DS-02 full match
prevents

Encrypting data-in-transit fully prevents interception of credentials in motion while only partially satisfying the broader data-protection outcome.

PR.AA-01 mostly match
prevents

Credential management practices directly reduce insecure storage/transmission but do not guarantee encryption or transport protection.

PR.AA-04 mostly match
prevents

Protecting identity assertions covers conveyance of credentials but is narrower than full credential lifecycle protection.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly require proper input type validation during development.

PR.AA-03 partial match
prevents

Authentication policies can enforce stronger credential handling yet address only verification, not storage or transit protection.

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

Requiring protected storage, transmission, and non-display of passwords prevents credentials from being stored or sent in clear text where they can be harvested by unauthorized actors.

prevents

Protecting secret and private keys against disclosure and unauthorized use decreases the exposure of credentials that are stored or transmitted in recoverable form.

finds

Security testing can detect type-validation flaws but does not prevent them during development.

prevents

Forbidding clear-text transmission and display of passwords, plus the use of stronger alternatives to passwords, prevents credentials from being obtained or reused by attackers.

prevents

Acceptable-use expectations that cover protection of credentials and information assets throughout their lifecycle discourage practices that expose or mishandle authentication material.

prevents

Contractual clauses that survive termination help ensure that credentials and other secrets are not retained or misused after employment ends.

References