Cyber Resilience

CVE-2024-51546

High

Published: 05 December 2024

Published
05 December 2024
Modified
10 April 2025
KEV Added
Patch
CVSS Score v4 8.7 CVSS: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 0.1707 95.1th percentile
Risk Priority 28 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

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, ranked in the top 4.9% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Deeper analysis

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.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

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

No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.

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

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-522

Training instructs users on protecting credentials from disclosure or unauthorized access.

addresses: CWE-522

Training records for security awareness and role-based training verify education on credential protection practices, tangibly reducing risks from mishandling or exposing credentials.

addresses: CWE-522

Protecting authenticator content from unauthorized disclosure and modification while requiring protective controls addresses insufficiently protected credentials.

addresses: CWE-522

Rules of behavior include credential protection and non-sharing requirements, reducing exposure of insufficiently protected credentials.

addresses: CWE-522

Terminating or revoking credentials stops use of insufficiently protected or lingering credentials post-termination.

addresses: CWE-522

Requiring confidentiality/integrity protection for stored credentials directly mitigates insufficiently protected credentials on disk or in configuration stores.

addresses: CWE-522

Credentials or keys delivered out-of-band are not exposed to interception or inadequate protection on the main transport.

References