Executive Summary
In June 2026, Siemens disclosed a vulnerability (CVE-2026-24349) in the WinCC Certificate Manager component of SIMATIC WinCC Unified PC Runtime versions 16 through 21 (prior to V21 Update 2). The flaw involves insufficient protection of cryptographic key material, potentially allowing attackers with local access to extract sensitive information. Siemens has released an update for version 21 and recommends upgrading to V21 Update 2 or later. For earlier versions, no fixes are planned, and users are advised to implement specific countermeasures.
This incident underscores the critical importance of securing cryptographic key material, especially in industrial control systems. Organizations should prioritize updating affected systems and apply recommended mitigations to prevent potential exploitation.
Why This Matters Now
The disclosure of CVE-2026-24349 highlights the ongoing risks associated with inadequate protection of cryptographic keys in industrial control systems. Immediate action is required to update affected systems or implement mitigations to safeguard sensitive information from potential local attackers.
Attack Path Analysis
An attacker gains local access to a system running vulnerable versions of SIMATIC WinCC Unified PC Runtime. Exploiting the cleartext storage vulnerability in the WinCC Certificate Manager, the attacker extracts sensitive cryptographic keys. With these keys, the attacker escalates privileges within the system. The attacker then moves laterally to other connected systems within the industrial control network. Establishing command and control channels, the attacker maintains persistent access. Sensitive data is exfiltrated from the compromised systems. Finally, the attacker disrupts operations by manipulating control processes or deploying malware.
Kill Chain Progression
Initial Compromise
Description
An attacker gains local access to a system running vulnerable versions of SIMATIC WinCC Unified PC Runtime.
Related CVEs
CVE-2026-24349
CVSS 7.1Insufficient protection of key material in WinCC Certificate Manager could allow an attacker to extract sensitive information.
Affected Products:
Siemens SIMATIC WinCC Unified PC Runtime – V16, V17, V18, V19, V20, V21 < V21 Update 2
Exploit Status:
no public exploit
MITRE ATT&CK® Techniques
Unsecured Credentials: Credentials In Files
Credentials from Password Stores: Windows Credential Manager
OS Credential Dumping: LSASS Memory
File and Directory Discovery
Valid Accounts
Potential Compliance Exposure
Mapping incident impact across multiple compliance frameworks.
PCI DSS 4.0 – Protect stored cardholder data
Control ID: 3.4.1
NYDFS 23 NYCRR 500 – Cybersecurity Policy
Control ID: 500.03
DORA – ICT Risk Management Framework
Control ID: Article 6
CISA ZTMM 2.0 – Data Security
Control ID: Data Pillar
NIS2 Directive – Cybersecurity Risk Management Measures
Control ID: Article 21
Sector Implications
Industry-specific impact of the vulnerabilities, including operational, regulatory, and cloud security risks.
Industrial Automation
Siemens WinCC Certificate Manager vulnerability exposes critical manufacturing control systems to credential extraction attacks, compromising industrial operations and safety systems worldwide.
Oil/Energy/Solar/Greentech
Energy infrastructure using Siemens SCADA systems faces certificate compromise risks, potentially enabling lateral movement and operational disruption across power generation facilities.
Utilities
Water, electric, and gas utilities deploying WinCC systems vulnerable to cleartext key storage exploitation, threatening critical infrastructure availability and public safety.
Transportation
Transportation control systems utilizing affected Siemens platforms at risk for certificate-based attacks enabling unauthorized access to traffic management and transit operations.
Sources
- Siemens WinCC Certificate Managerhttps://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-26-174-01Verified
- SSA-063511: Insufficient protection of key material in WinCC Certificate Managerhttps://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-063511.htmlVerified
- NVD - CVE-2026-24349https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-24349Verified
Frequently Asked Questions
Cloud Native Security Fabric Mitigations and ControlsCNSF
Aviatrix Zero Trust CNSF is pertinent to this incident as it would likely limit the attacker's ability to move laterally and exfiltrate data by enforcing strict segmentation and controlled egress policies.
Control: Cloud Native Security Fabric (CNSF)
Mitigation: While Aviatrix Zero Trust CNSF may not prevent initial local access, it would likely limit the attacker's ability to exploit vulnerabilities by enforcing strict workload isolation.
Control: Zero Trust Segmentation
Mitigation: Aviatrix Zero Trust Segmentation would likely limit the attacker's ability to escalate privileges by enforcing strict identity-based access controls.
Control: East-West Traffic Security
Mitigation: Aviatrix East-West Traffic Security would likely limit the attacker's ability to move laterally by enforcing strict segmentation between workloads.
Control: Multicloud Visibility & Control
Mitigation: Aviatrix Multicloud Visibility & Control would likely limit the attacker's ability to establish command and control channels by monitoring and controlling outbound communications.
Control: Egress Security & Policy Enforcement
Mitigation: Aviatrix Egress Security & Policy Enforcement would likely limit the attacker's ability to exfiltrate data by enforcing strict egress policies.
While Aviatrix Zero Trust CNSF may not prevent all operational disruptions, it would likely limit the attacker's ability to propagate malware or manipulate control processes beyond the initially compromised workload.
Impact at a Glance
Affected Business Functions
- Industrial Control Systems
- Manufacturing Operations
- Process Automation
Estimated downtime: N/A
Estimated loss: N/A
Potential exposure of sensitive key material used in industrial control systems.
Recommended Actions
Key Takeaways & Next Steps
- • Implement Zero Trust Segmentation to restrict lateral movement within the network.
- • Deploy East-West Traffic Security controls to monitor and control internal communications.
- • Utilize Multicloud Visibility & Control to detect and respond to anomalous activities.
- • Enforce Egress Security & Policy Enforcement to prevent unauthorized data exfiltration.
- • Apply Inline IPS (Suricata) to detect and block exploit attempts targeting known vulnerabilities.
