CVE-2021-45460Network attack vector

Persistence via unquoted service registry path

Published Jan 11, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Unquoted service path handling in Siemens SICAM PQ Analyzer before 3.18 allows remote authenticated users to persist or interrupt service. The service registry entry leaves a space-containing executable path unquoted, so path resolution can launch a planted executable instead of the legitimate process. Exploitation requires write access to a directory in that path; the planted program can persist across service starts or prevent the service from running.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability0.83%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unquoted service path handling in Siemens SICAM PQ Analyzer before 3.18 allows remote authenticated users to persist or interrupt service. The service registry entry leaves a space-containing executable path unquoted, so path resolution can launch a planted executable instead of the legitimate process. Exploitation requires write access to a directory in that path; the planted program can persist across service starts or prevent the service from running.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-45460
Published
Jan 11, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Siemens
Product
SICAM PQ Analyzer
Classifications
CWE-428, T1574.009
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 11, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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 < V3.18

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Siemens · SICAM PQ Analyzerversion=All versions < V3.18

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:P
8.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-428Unquoted Search Path or Element
T1574.009Path Interception by Unquoted Path

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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