dbcve.org
Wincc FlexibleApplication · Siemens

CVE-2011-4513

HIGH · 10.0 CVSS v2.0 Published 2012-02-03
Mitigation only
No fix yet — a mitigation exists. There is no fixed release. A documented workaround reduces exposure in the meantime.
See remediation →
100/100
Remediation priority · Urgent
Remotely reachable No privileges Zero-click

Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.

NVD · unedited
Siemens WinCC flexible 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008; WinCC V11 (aka TIA portal); the TP, OP, MP, Comfort Panels, and Mobile Panels SIMATIC HMI panels; WinCC V11 Runtime Advanced; and WinCC flexible Runtime allow user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted project file, related to the HMI web server and runtime loader.

Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.

dbcve analysis · high confidence

The vulnerability exists in Siemens WinCC flexible and related HMI panel software where the HMI web server and runtime loader improperly process crafted project files, allowing remote code execution. Attackers need user assistance (convincing a user to open a malicious project file), but once triggered, arbitrary code can execute with the privileges of the affected service.

MitigationApply Siemens security patches for affected versions; isolate HMI systems from untrusted networks; implement network segmentation for OT environments; enforce strict controls on project file origins and avoid opening untrusted files.

Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.

Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.

NVD · CPE data
Wincc FlexibleApplication
Affected:= 2004= 2005= 2007= 2008
WinccApplication
Affected:= v11
Simatic Hmi PanelsApplication
Affected:= comfort_panels= mobile_panels= mp= op= tp
Wincc Runtime AdvancedApplication
Affected:= v11
Wincc Flexible RuntimeApplication
Affected:all versions

CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.

From the vector
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
Complete
Integrity
Complete
Availability
Complete

AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.

dbcve checks

Work through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.

  1. Identify installed Siemens HMI software product and version
    Open Windows Control Panel > Programs and Features, or check the installation directory (typically C:\Program Files\Siemens\WinCC Flexible or C:\Program Files\Siemens\WinCC). Locate the exact version number from the installed program name or right-click the executable > Properties > Version tab.
    Affected if The installed product matches WinCC Flexible (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008), WinCC v11, Simatic HMI Panels (comfort, mobile, mp, op, tp series), WinCC Runtime Advanced v11, or any version of WinCC Flexible Runtime.
  2. Verify if HMI web server component is enabled
    Check the WinCC Flexible or WinCC project settings. In WinCC Flexible, open the project > Project Settings > Runtime Settings > Web Server. In WinCC v11, verify via SIMATIC Manager > Options > Runtime Settings. Look for enabled web server configuration.
    Affected if The HMI web server feature is enabled and running, making the system vulnerable to malicious project file processing.
  3. Confirm runtime loader configuration
    Examine the runtime loader configuration in the project file (.fwf for WinCC Flexible or .pdl for WinCC). Check if Auto-Start Runtime is enabled, which would automatically load project files on system startup.
    Affected if Runtime loader is configured to automatically load project files, allowing the vulnerability to be triggered when a malicious file is opened.
  4. Review project file handling and security settings
    Inspect the project file associations and default open behavior. In Windows, search for file extensions .fwf (WinCC Flexible) or .pdl (WinCC) and check which application is set to open them by default.
    Affected if Project files can be opened without warning prompts or security validation, enabling user-assisted exploitation.

A system is affected if it runs any of the listed Siemens HMI software versions with the web server or runtime loader enabled, allowing processing of untrusted project files.

Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.

Check your environment

Paste your version and any relevant configuration and it will be compared against the affected criteria above. Do not include secrets or credentials.

AI-assisted, checked against the advisory. Informational, not a guarantee.

Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.

From vendor data
Mitigation available No clean upgrade yet — mitigate in the meantime
Mitigation

Apply Siemens security patches for affected versions; isolate HMI systems from untrusted networks; implement network segmentation for OT environments; enforce strict controls on project file origins and avoid opening untrusted files.

Fix this in Wincc Flexible Scoped from the published advisory
  • Consultation8.0 h
  • Implementation16.0 h
  • Testing12.0 h
  • Review / QA8.0 h
44.0 hours of engineering $7,720
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References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.

Primary sources

Practitioner notes

Contributed

Peer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2011-4513 in production — separate from our analysis above.

No notes yet

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What this is

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What belongs here
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  • Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
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