CVE-2021-32498

Arbitrary code execution via emulator path traversal

Published Dec 17, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Path traversal in SICK SOPAS ET before 4.8.0 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted emulator pathname. The emulator location in a malicious SDD manifest is not confined to its intended directory, so path traversal redirects SOPAS ET to launch an arbitrary host executable when the emulator starts. Exploitation requires a user to import the crafted SDD and start the emulator, after which code runs with that user's privileges.

CVSS severity8.6
High
EPSS probability0.94%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in SICK SOPAS ET before 4.8.0 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted emulator pathname. The emulator location in a malicious SDD manifest is not confined to its intended directory, so path traversal redirects SOPAS ET to launch an arbitrary host executable when the emulator starts. Exploitation requires a user to import the crafted SDD and start the emulator, after which code runs with that user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-32498
Published
Dec 17, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
SICK AG
Product
SOPAS Engineering Tool
Classifications
CWE-22, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 17, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=all versions before 4.8.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

SICK AG · SOPAS Engineering Toolversion=all versions before 4.8.0

Published CVSS scores

9.3NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
8.6NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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