1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- CVSS v4 8.5
- ATTENTION: Low attack complexity
- Vendor: Rockwell Automation
- Equipment: Arena
- Vulnerabilities: Use of Uninitialized Variable, Out-of-bounds Write, Out-of-bounds Read, Stack-based Buffer Overflow
2. RISK EVALUATION
Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could disclose information to an attacker or allow execution of arbitrary code on the system.
3. TECHNICAL DETAILS
3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS
Rockwell Automation reports the following versions of Arena simulation software are affected:
- Arena: Versions 16.20.08 and prior
3.2 VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW
3.2.1 Use of Uninitialized Variable CWE-457
A local code execution vulnerability exists in Rockwell Automation Arena due to an uninitialized pointer. The flaw is result of improper validation of user-supplied data. If exploited, a threat actor can disclose information and execute arbitrary code on the system. To exploit the vulnerability a legitimate user must open a malicious DOE file.
CVE-2025-2285 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2025-2285. A base score of 8.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).
3.2.2 Use of Uninitialized Variable CWE-457
A local code execution vulnerability exists in Rockwell Automation Arena due to an uninitialized pointer. The flaw is result of improper validation of user-supplied data. If exploited, a threat actor can disclose information and execute arbitrary code on the system. To exploit the vulnerability a legitimate user must open a malicious DOE file.
CVE-2025-2286 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2025-2286. A base score of 8.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).
3.2.3 Use of Uninitialized Variable CWE-457
A local code execution vulnerability exists in Rockwell Automation Arena due to an uninitialized pointer. The flaw is result of improper validation of user-supplied data. If exploited, a threat actor can disclose information and execute arbitrary code on the system. To exploit the vulnerability a legitimate user must open a malicious DOE file.
CVE-2025-2287 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2025-2287. A base score of 8.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).
3.2.4 Out-of-bounds Write CWE-787
A local code execution vulnerability exists in Rockwell Automation Arena due to a threat actor being able to write outside of the allocated memory buffer. The flaw is a result of improper validation of user-supplied data. If exploited, a threat actor can disclose information and execute arbitrary code on the system. To exploit the vulnerability a legitimate user must open a malicious DOE file.
CVE-2025-2288 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2025-2288. A base score of 8.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).
3.2.5 Out-of-bounds Write CWE-787
A local code execution vulnerability exists in Rockwell Automation Arena due to a threat actor being able to write outside of the allocated memory buffer. The flaw is a result of improper validation of user-supplied data. If exploited, a threat actor can disclose information and execute arbitrary code on the system. To exploit the vulnerability a legitimate user must open a malicious DOE file.
CVE-2025-2293 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2025-2293. A base score of 8.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).
3.2.6 Out-of-bounds Write CWE-787
A local code execution vulnerability exists in Rockwell Automation Arena due to a threat actor being able to write outside of the allocated memory buffer. The flaw is a result of improper validation of user-supplied data. If exploited, a threat actor can disclose information and execute arbitrary code on the system. To exploit the vulnerability a legitimate user must open a malicious DOE file.
CVE-2025-2829 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2025-2829. A base score of 8.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).
3.2.7 Out-of-bounds Read CWE-125
A local code execution vulnerability exists in Rockwell Automation Arena due to a threat actor being able to read outside of the allocated memory buffer. The flaw is a result of improper validation of user-supplied data. If exploited, a threat actor can disclose information and execute arbitrary code on the system. To exploit the vulnerability a legitimate user must open a malicious DOE file.
CVE-2025-3285 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2025-3285. A base score of 8.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).
3.2.8 Out-of-bounds Read CWE-125
A local code execution vulnerability exists in Rockwell Automation Arena due to a threat actor being able to read outside of the allocated memory buffer. The flaw is a result of improper validation of user-supplied data. If exploited, a threat actor can disclose information and execute arbitrary code on the system. To exploit the vulnerability a legitimate user must open a malicious DOE file.
CVE-2025-3286 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2025-3286. A base score of 8.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).
3.2.9 Out-of-bounds Read CWE-125
A local code execution vulnerability exists in Rockwell Automation Arena due to a threat actor being able to read outside of the allocated memory buffer. The flaw is a result of improper validation of user-supplied data. If exploited, a threat actor can disclose information and execute arbitrary code on the system. To exploit the vulnerability a legitimate user must open a malicious DOE file.
CVE-2025-3287 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2025-3287. A base score of 8.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).
3.2.10 Out-of-bounds Read CWE-125
A local code execution vulnerability exists in Rockwell Automation Arena due to a threat actor being able to read outside of the allocated memory buffer. The flaw is a result of improper validation of user-supplied data. If exploited, a threat actor can disclose information and execute arbitrary code on the system. To exploit the vulnerability a legitimate user must open a malicious DOE file.
CVE-2025-3288 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2025-3288. A base score of 8.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).
3.2.11 Stack-based Buffer Overflow CWE-121
A local code execution vulnerability exists in Rockwell Automation Arena due to a stack-based memory buffer overflow. The flaw is result of improper validation of user-supplied data. If exploited a threat actor can disclose information and execute arbitrary code on the system. To exploit the vulnerability a legitimate user must open a malicious DOE file.
CVE-2025-3289 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
A CVSS v4 score has also been calculated for CVE-2025-3289. A base score of 8.5 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N).
3.3 BACKGROUND
- CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Critical Manufacturing
- COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide
- COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: United States
3.4 RESEARCHER
Michael Heinzl reported these vulnerabilities to CISA.
4. MITIGATIONS
Rockwell Automation recommends users upgrade to V16.20.09 or later.
For information on how to mitigate security risks on industrial automation control systems, Rockwell Automation encourages users to implement their suggested security best practices (login required) to minimize the risk of the vulnerability.
For more information about these issues, please see the Rockwell Automation security advisory SD1726.
CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of these vulnerabilities. CISA reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures.
CISA also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS webpage on cisa.gov/ics. Several CISA products detailing cyber defense best practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies.
CISA encourages organizations to implement recommended cybersecurity strategies for proactive defense of ICS assets.
Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available on the ICS webpage at cisa.gov/ics in the technical information paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B–Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies.
Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.
CISA also recommends users take the following measures to protect themselves from social engineering attacks:
No known public exploitation specifically targeting these vulnerabilities has been reported to CISA at this time. These vulnerabilities are not exploitable remotely.
5. UPDATE HISTORY
- April 10, 2025: Initial Republication of Rockwell Automation security advisory SD1726.