CVE-2022-38465

Configuration disclosure via recoverable global private key

Published Oct 11, 2022 · Updated Apr 21, 2025

Weak key protection in Siemens SIMATIC and SINUMERIK products allows attackers to recover protected configuration data offline. Affected CPU families embed one global private key and protect it inadequately, allowing recovery from one CPU and reuse across the family. Local access to a CPU or related storage enables the offline attack; the recovered key exposes legacy-protected projects and legacy PG/PC and HMI communications.

CVSS severity9.3
Critical
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Weak key protection in Siemens SIMATIC and SINUMERIK products allows attackers to recover protected configuration data offline. Affected CPU families embed one global private key and protect it inadequately, allowing recovery from one CPU and reuse across the family. Local access to a CPU or related storage enables the offline attack; the recovered key exposes legacy-protected projects and legacy PG/PC and HMI communications.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-38465
Published
Oct 11, 2022
Updated
Apr 21, 2025
Vendor
Siemens
Product
SIMATIC ET 200SP Open Controller CPU 1515SP PC2
Classifications
CWE-522, T1552.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 11, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 21, 2025Record 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 < V21.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Siemens · SIMATIC ET 200SP Open Controller CPU 1515SP PC2version=All versions < V21.9
Siemens · SINUMERIK MCversion=All versions < V6.21
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-PLCSIM Advancedversion=All versions < V4.0
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 Software Controllerversion=All versions < V21.9
Siemens · SIMATIC ET 200SP Open Controller CPU 1515SP PCversion=All versions
Siemens · SINUMERIK ONEversion=All versions < V6.21
Siemens · SIMATIC Drive Controllerversion=All versions < V2.9.2
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1200 CPU Familyversion=All versions < V4.5.0
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU Familyversion=All versions < V2.9.2

Published CVSS scores

9.3Siemens AGCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/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.

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-522Insufficiently Protected Credentials
T1552.004Unsecured Credentials: Private Keys

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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