CVE-2022-38773

Arbitrary code execution via unverified boot images

Published Jan 10, 2023 · Updated Apr 3, 2025

Missing hardware root of trust in Siemens S7-1500 and Drive Controller CPUs allows physically proximate attackers to execute arbitrary code. The devices do not validate the boot image against an immutable hardware trust anchor during loading, so a replaced image is accepted and executed. Physical tampering is required, and successful replacement changes the code that controls the device; network access alone does not expose the flaw.

CVSS severity4.6
Medium
EPSS probability0.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Missing hardware root of trust in Siemens S7-1500 and Drive Controller CPUs allows physically proximate attackers to execute arbitrary code. The devices do not validate the boot image against an immutable hardware trust anchor during loading, so a replaced image is accepted and executed. Physical tampering is required, and successful replacement changes the code that controls the device; network access alone does not expose the flaw.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-38773
Published
Jan 10, 2023
Updated
Apr 3, 2025
Vendor
Siemens
Product
SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518T-4 PN/DP
Classifications
CWE-1326, T1542.001
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 10, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 3, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <*

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518T-4 PN/DPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1512SP-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1515T-2 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 ET 200pro: CPU 1516PRO F-2 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS ET 200SP CPU 1510SP-1 PN RAILversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS ET 200SP CPU 1510SP F-1 PN RAILversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1517F-3 PN/DPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 ET 200pro: CPU 1513PRO F-2 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU S7-1518-4 PN/DP ODKversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1517TF-3 PN/DPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1516F-3 PN/DP RAILversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1516-3 PN/DPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1516-3 PN/DP RAILversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518TF-4 PN/DPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1517H-3 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS ET 200SP CPU 1510SP F-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1512SP F-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1511F-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518HF-4 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1511TF-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS ET 200SP CPU 1512SP F-1 PN RAILversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1513-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC Drive Controller CPU 1507D TFversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1516F-3 PN/DPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 ET 200pro: CPU 1513PRO-2 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU S7-1518F-4 PN/DP ODKversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1511T-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1511-1 PN T1 RAILversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1511-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1511F-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS ET 200SP CPU 1512SP-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1511-1 PN TX RAILversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1515F-2 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1513F-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1516T-3 PN/DPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1517H-3 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1513-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1516F-3 PN/DPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1513F-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1516-3 PN/DPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1512C-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1513R-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1511-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518HF-4 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1515F-2 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS ET 200SP CPU 1512SP-1 PN RAILversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC Drive Controller CPU 1504D TFversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1516-3 PN/DP TX RAILversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS ET 200SP CPU 1510SP-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1517T-3 PN/DPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1511C-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1510SP-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1515-2 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1515F-2 PN RAILversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1515R-2 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1515R-2 PN TX RAILversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1515F-2 PN T2 RAILversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1515R-2 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1515TF-2 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1516TF-3 PN/DPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 ET 200pro: CPU 1516PRO-2 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1517-3 PN/DPversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIPLUS ET 200SP CPU 1512SP F-1 PNversion=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1510SP F-1 PNversion=0 <*

Published CVSS scores

4.6Siemens ProductCERTCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

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)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-1326Missing Immutable Root of Trust in Hardware
T1542.001System Firmware

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo