CVE-2023-4487

SYSTEM privilege escalation via web-server configuration planting

Published Sep 5, 2023 · Updated Jan 16, 2025

Process control in GE Digital CIMPLICITY 2023 allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges by placing a malicious web-server configuration file. The web server loads configuration files from an expected execution-path location that low-privileged users can populate, causing attacker-controlled settings to run with elevated rights. A local low-privileged session is required; successful exploitation grants full control of the HMI software and its host process.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Process control in GE Digital CIMPLICITY 2023 allows local users to gain SYSTEM privileges by placing a malicious web-server configuration file. The web server loads configuration files from an expected execution-path location that low-privileged users can populate, causing attacker-controlled settings to run with elevated rights. A local low-privileged session is required; successful exploitation grants full control of the HMI software and its host process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-4487
Published
Sep 5, 2023
Updated
Jan 16, 2025
Vendor
GE Digital
Product
CIMPLICITY
Classifications
CWE-114, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 5, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 16, 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=2023

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

GE Digital · CIMPLICITYversion=2023

Published CVSS scores

7.8CISACVSS:3.0/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.

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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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-114Process Control
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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