Executive Summary
In 2024, a critical vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-2658 was discovered in Schneider Electric's Floating License Manager, specifically within the FlexNet Publisher component. This flaw, classified under CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element, allows local non-administrative users to manipulate the OpenSSL configuration file, leading to the execution of arbitrary code with elevated privileges. Exploitation of this vulnerability can result in full control over the affected system, including access to sensitive data and potential lateral movement within industrial networks.
The urgency to address this vulnerability is heightened by the increasing targeting of industrial control systems by cyber adversaries. Organizations utilizing Schneider Electric's software are advised to implement the recommended mitigations promptly to prevent potential exploitation and safeguard critical infrastructure.
Why This Matters Now
The CVE-2024-2658 vulnerability poses a significant risk to industrial control systems, as it allows attackers to escalate privileges and potentially disrupt critical operations. Immediate action is required to patch affected systems and prevent exploitation.
Attack Path Analysis
An attacker with local access exploited a misconfiguration in Schneider Electric's Floating License Manager to escalate privileges to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM. This allowed full control over the system, enabling potential lateral movement within the network. The attacker could establish command and control channels, exfiltrate sensitive data, and disrupt industrial operations.
Kill Chain Progression
Initial Compromise
Description
An attacker with local access exploited a misconfiguration in Schneider Electric's Floating License Manager to escalate privileges to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM.
Related CVEs
CVE-2024-2658
CVSS 8.5A vulnerability in Schneider Electric's Floating License Manager allows local attackers to escalate privileges to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM by exploiting an uncontrolled search path element.
Affected Products:
Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Control Expert – < 16.2
Exploit Status:
proof of concept
MITRE ATT&CK® Techniques
Hijack Execution Flow: DLL Search Order Hijacking
Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Bypass User Account Control
Process Injection: Dynamic-link Library Injection
Valid Accounts
Create or Modify System Process: Windows Service
Hijack Execution Flow: DLL Side-Loading
Potential Compliance Exposure
Mapping incident impact across multiple compliance frameworks.
PCI DSS 4.0 – Ensure that all system components and software are protected from known vulnerabilities by installing applicable vendor-supplied security patches.
Control ID: 6.2
NYDFS 23 NYCRR 500 – Cybersecurity Policy
Control ID: 500.03
DORA – ICT Risk Management Framework
Control ID: Article 5
CISA ZTMM 2.0 – Implement strong identity and access management controls.
Control ID: Identity 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
Critical privilege escalation vulnerability in Schneider Electric license managers threatens PLC programming environments, SCADA systems, and comprehensive automation infrastructure with potential system-level compromise.
Oil/Energy/Solar/Greentech
FlexNet Publisher vulnerability enables attackers to gain NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM access on industrial control systems, disrupting energy operations and compromising critical infrastructure security controls.
Utilities
CVE-2024-2658 exposes utility control rooms to lateral movement attacks through compromised engineering workstations, potentially affecting power grid operations and distribution system reliability.
Manufacturing
Schneider Electric FLM vulnerability allows local privilege escalation on manufacturing systems, threatening production line integrity, HMI operations, and industrial network segmentation boundaries.
Sources
- Beware of the license manager: how a Schneider Electric software vulnerability puts industrial facilities at riskhttps://securelist.com/tr/schneider-electric-cve-2024-2658-vulnerability/120436/Verified
- Schneider Electric Security Notificationhttps://download.schneider-electric.com/files?p_Doc_Ref=SEVD-2025-014-07&p_File_Name=SEVD-2025-014-07.pdfVerified
- Multiple vulnerabilities in Schneider Electric Floating License Managerhttps://ics-cert.kaspersky.com/publications/blog/2019/07/16/schneider-electric-flm/Verified
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 escalate privileges and move laterally within the network, thereby reducing the potential blast radius.
Control: Cloud Native Security Fabric (CNSF)
Mitigation: The attacker's ability to exploit misconfigurations for privilege escalation would likely be constrained, reducing the risk of gaining SYSTEM-level access.
Control: Zero Trust Segmentation
Mitigation: The attacker's ability to leverage SYSTEM-level privileges to access other systems would likely be constrained, reducing the risk of further compromise.
Control: East-West Traffic Security
Mitigation: The attacker's ability to move laterally within the network would likely be constrained, reducing the risk of compromising additional systems.
Control: Multicloud Visibility & Control
Mitigation: The attacker's ability to establish and maintain command and control channels would likely be constrained, reducing the risk of persistent access.
Control: Egress Security & Policy Enforcement
Mitigation: The attacker's ability to exfiltrate sensitive data to external locations would likely be constrained, reducing the risk of data loss.
The attacker's ability to disrupt industrial operations would likely be constrained, reducing the risk of significant operational impact.
Impact at a Glance
Affected Business Functions
- Industrial Automation Control
- SCADA Systems
- Engineering Workstations
Estimated downtime: 3 days
Estimated loss: $50,000
Potential exposure of sensitive system configurations and operational data.
Recommended Actions
Key Takeaways & Next Steps
- • Implement Zero Trust Segmentation to restrict lateral movement within the network.
- • Enforce East-West Traffic Security to monitor and control internal communications.
- • Deploy Inline IPS (Suricata) to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.
- • Utilize Threat Detection & Anomaly Response systems to identify and respond to suspicious activities.
- • Regularly update and patch software to mitigate known vulnerabilities.



