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VDE-2025-063

Vulnerability from csaf_phoenixcontactgmbhcokg - Published: 2025-08-12 10:00 - Updated: 2025-08-12 10:00
Summary
Phoenix Contact: Device and Update Management Windows Installer Privilege Escalation
Severity
High
Notes
Summary: A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Phoenix Contact Device and Update Management prior to version 2025.3.1 due to misconfigured permissions on nssm.exe in the DAUM-WINDOWS-SERVICE. This misconfiguration allows a low-privileged local user to execute arbitrary code with administrative privileges.
Impact: The products installer allows privileges escalation to admin rights caused by the nssm.exe. Nssm.exe is an open-source tool designed to simplify the management of Windows services. The permissions on the nssm.exe were not secured properly, this could allow an attack to escalate privileges from a low privileged user to an administrator.
Remediation: Update to the latest 2025.3.1 DaUM Version.
General Recommendation: Phoenix Contact recommends operating network-capable devices in closed networks or protected with a suitable firewall. For detailed information on our recommendations for measures to protect network-capable devices, please refer to our [application note](https://dam-mdc.phoenixcontact.com/asset/156443151564/0a870ae433c19148b80bd760f3a1c1f2/107913_en_03.pdf).

A low-privileged local attacker can exploit improper permissions on nssm.exe to escalate their privileges and gain administrative access.

CWE-306 - Missing Authentication for Critical Function
Affected products
Product Identifier Version Remediation
DaUM 2025.3.1
Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG / Software
1542953 DaUM 2025.3.1
Vendor Fix
Product Identifier Version Remediation
DaUM <2025.3.1
Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG / Software
1542953 DaUM<2025.3.1

{
  "document": {
    "acknowledgments": [
      {
        "organization": "CERT@VDE",
        "summary": "coordination.",
        "urls": [
          "https://certvde.com"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "aggregate_severity": {
      "namespace": "https://www.first.org/cvss/v3.1/specification-document#Qualitative-Severity-Rating-Scale",
      "text": "High"
    },
    "category": "csaf_security_advisory",
    "csaf_version": "2.0",
    "distribution": {
      "tlp": {
        "label": "WHITE",
        "url": "https://www.first.org/tlp/"
      }
    },
    "lang": "en-GB",
    "notes": [
      {
        "category": "summary",
        "text": "A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in Phoenix Contact Device and Update Management prior to version 2025.3.1 due to misconfigured permissions on nssm.exe in the DAUM-WINDOWS-SERVICE. This misconfiguration allows a low-privileged local user to execute arbitrary code with administrative privileges.\n",
        "title": "Summary"
      },
      {
        "category": "description",
        "text": "The products installer allows privileges escalation to admin rights caused by the nssm.exe. Nssm.exe is an open-source tool designed to simplify the management of Windows services.\nThe permissions on the nssm.exe were not secured properly, this could allow an attack to escalate privileges from a low privileged user to an administrator.\n",
        "title": "Impact"
      },
      {
        "category": "description",
        "text": "Update to the latest 2025.3.1 DaUM Version.",
        "title": "Remediation"
      },
      {
        "category": "general",
        "text": "Phoenix Contact recommends operating network-capable devices in closed networks or protected with a suitable firewall. For detailed information on our recommendations for measures to protect network-capable devices, please refer to our [application note](https://dam-mdc.phoenixcontact.com/asset/156443151564/0a870ae433c19148b80bd760f3a1c1f2/107913_en_03.pdf).",
        "title": "General Recommendation"
      }
    ],
    "publisher": {
      "category": "vendor",
      "contact_details": "psirt@phoenixcontact.com",
      "name": "Phoenix Contact GmbH \u0026 Co. KG",
      "namespace": "https://phoenixcontact.com/psirt"
    },
    "references": [
      {
        "category": "external",
        "summary": "PCSA-2025/00010",
        "url": "https://phoenixcontact.com/psirt"
      },
      {
        "category": "external",
        "summary": "Phoenix Contact advisory overview at CERT@VDE",
        "url": "https://certvde.com/de/advisories/vendor/phoenixcontact/"
      },
      {
        "category": "external",
        "summary": "Phoenix Contact application note",
        "url": "https://dam-mdc.phoenixcontact.com/asset/156443151564/0a870ae433c19148b80bd760f3a1c1f2/107913_en_03.pdf"
      },
      {
        "category": "self",
        "summary": "VDE-2025-063: Phoenix Contact: Device and Update Management Windows Installer Privilege Escalation - HTML",
        "url": "https://certvde.com/en/advisories/VDE-2025-063"
      },
      {
        "category": "self",
        "summary": "VDE-2025-063: Phoenix Contact: Device and Update Management Windows Installer Privilege Escalation - CSAF",
        "url": "https://phoenixcontact.csaf-tp.certvde.com/.well-known/csaf/white/2025/vde-2025-063.json"
      }
    ],
    "source_lang": "en",
    "title": "Phoenix Contact: Device and Update Management Windows Installer Privilege Escalation",
    "tracking": {
      "aliases": [
        "VDE-2025-063",
        "PCSA-2025/00010"
      ],
      "current_release_date": "2025-08-12T10:00:00.000Z",
      "generator": {
        "date": "2025-08-07T09:38:30.028Z",
        "engine": {
          "name": "Secvisogram",
          "version": "2.5.31"
        }
      },
      "id": "VDE-2025-063",
      "initial_release_date": "2025-08-12T10:00:00.000Z",
      "revision_history": [
        {
          "date": "2025-08-12T10:00:00.000Z",
          "number": "1",
          "summary": "Initial"
        }
      ],
      "status": "final",
      "version": "1"
    }
  },
  "product_tree": {
    "branches": [
      {
        "branches": [
          {
            "branches": [
              {
                "category": "product_version_range",
                "name": "DaUM\u003c2025.3.1",
                "product": {
                  "name": "DaUM \u003c2025.3.1",
                  "product_id": "CSAFPID-51001",
                  "product_identification_helper": {
                    "model_numbers": [
                      "1542953"
                    ]
                  }
                }
              },
              {
                "category": "product_version",
                "name": "DaUM 2025.3.1",
                "product": {
                  "name": "DaUM 2025.3.1",
                  "product_id": "CSAFPID-52001",
                  "product_identification_helper": {
                    "model_numbers": [
                      "1542953"
                    ]
                  }
                }
              }
            ],
            "category": "product_family",
            "name": "Software"
          }
        ],
        "category": "vendor",
        "name": "Phoenix Contact GmbH \u0026 Co. KG"
      }
    ]
  },
  "vulnerabilities": [
    {
      "cve": "CVE-2025-41686",
      "cwe": {
        "id": "CWE-306",
        "name": "Missing Authentication for Critical Function"
      },
      "notes": [
        {
          "category": "description",
          "text": "A low-privileged local attacker can exploit improper permissions on nssm.exe to escalate their privileges and gain administrative access.",
          "title": "Vulnerability Description"
        }
      ],
      "product_status": {
        "fixed": [
          "CSAFPID-52001"
        ],
        "known_affected": [
          "CSAFPID-51001"
        ]
      },
      "remediations": [
        {
          "category": "vendor_fix",
          "date": "2025-08-12T10:00:00.000Z",
          "details": "Phoenix Contact strongly recommends to upgrade to Update to the latest Version of the DaUM software which fixes this vulnerability.",
          "product_ids": [
            "CSAFPID-52001"
          ]
        }
      ],
      "scores": [
        {
          "cvss_v3": {
            "attackComplexity": "LOW",
            "attackVector": "LOCAL",
            "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
            "baseScore": 7.8,
            "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
            "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
            "environmentalScore": 7.8,
            "environmentalSeverity": "HIGH",
            "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
            "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
            "scope": "UNCHANGED",
            "temporalScore": 7.8,
            "temporalSeverity": "HIGH",
            "userInteraction": "NONE",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
            "version": "3.1"
          },
          "products": [
            "CSAFPID-51001"
          ]
        }
      ],
      "title": "CVE-2025-41686"
    }
  ]
}



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