ABB Protection and Control IED Manager PCM600

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Summary​


Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to escalate privileges or overwrite files.

The following versions of ABB Protection and Control IED Manager PCM600 are affected:

  • Protection and Control IED Manager PCM600 <=2.14 (CVE-2026-15952, CVE-2026-15953)
CVSSVendorEquipmentVulnerabilities
v3 6.4ABBABB Protection and Control IED Manager PCM600Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

Background​

  • Critical Infrastructure Sectors: Energy
  • Countries/Areas Deployed: Worldwide
  • Company Headquarters Location: Switzerland

Vulnerabilities​


Expand All +

CVE-2026-15952​


A vulnerability exists in the Scheduler Service installed with PCM600. The service executes under the LocalSystem account while permissions are granted to standard PCM600 users through membership in the local users group. An attacker with local access and valid user credentials may exploit this vulnerability to elevate privileges and obtain control of the affected host.

View CVE Details


Affected Products​

ABB Protection and Control IED Manager PCM600​

Vendor:
ABB
Product Version:
ABB Protection and Control IED Manager PCM600: <=2.14
Product Status:
known_affected

Remediations​


Mitigation
ABB recommends the following workaround. Although this workaround does not correct the underlying vulnerability, it reduces the risk of privilege escalation.

Mitigation
Configure the appropriate ABBPCMSchedulerService instance to run using the same Windows account that is used to operate PCM600:

  • Open Services.msc.
  • Locate the ABBPCMSchedulerService corresponding to the installed PCM600 version.
  • Open Properties and select the Log On tab.
  • The service should be configured to log on with the same Windows user account that is used for the PCM600 application.
  • Ensure that this account has the required "Log on as a service" privilege.

Mitigation
When authentication is enabled for the IED, the Scheduler tool must be used with the same Windows account configured as the Scheduler Service logon account.

Mitigation
For installations using IED security certificates, the PCM600 setting Always trust IED security certifcates must be enabled only when PCM600-to-IED communication takes place in a secure and trusted environment.

Mitigation
For more information, see ABB security advisory 2NGA003170 and 2NGA003179.


Relevant CWE: CWE-732 Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource


Metrics​

CVSS VersionBase ScoreBase SeverityVector String
3.16.4MEDIUMCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.07.1HIGHCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

CVE-2026-15953​


A vulnerability exists in the processing of PCM600 project archives files. Insufficient validation of archive entry paths may permit path traversal during extraction, potentially allowing files to be written to loca tions outside the intended extraction directory.

View CVE Details


Affected Products​

ABB Protection and Control IED Manager PCM600​

Vendor:
ABB
Product Version:
ABB Protection and Control IED Manager PCM600: <=2.14
Product Status:
known_affected

Remediations​


Mitigation
Configure the appropriate ABBPCMSchedulerService instance to run using the same Windows account that is used to operate PCM600:

  • Open Services.msc.
  • Locate the ABBPCMSchedulerService corresponding to the installed PCM600 version.
  • Open Properties and select the Log On tab.
  • The service should be configured to log on with the same Windows user account that is used for the PCM600 application.
  • Ensure that this account has the required "Log on as a service" privilege.

Mitigation
When authentication is enabled for the IED, the Scheduler tool must be used with the same Windows account configured as the Scheduler Service logon account.

Mitigation
For installations using IED security certificates, the PCM600 setting Always trust IED security certifcates must be enabled only when PCM600-to-IED communication takes place in a secure and trusted environment.

Mitigation
For more information, see ABB security advisory 2NGA003170 and 2NGA003179.


Relevant CWE: CWE-22 Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')


Metrics​

CVSS VersionBase ScoreBase SeverityVector String
3.15MEDIUMCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
4.05.6MEDIUMCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:A/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:H/SA:N

Acknowledgments​

  • Abhinav Agarwal reported these vulnerabilities to CISA.

Legal Notice and Terms of Use​


This product is provided subject to this Notification (https://www.cisa.gov/notification) and this Privacy & Use policy (https://www.cisa.gov/privacy-policy).


Recommended Practices​


CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of these vulnerabilities.

  • Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and/or systems, ensuring they are not accessible from the internet.
  • Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls and isolating them from business networks.
  • When remote access is required, use more secure methods, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), recognizing VPNs may have vulnerabilities and should be updated to the most current version available. Also recognize VPN is only as secure as the connected devices.

CISA reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures.

CISA also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS webpage on cisa.gov/ics. Several CISA products detailing cyber defense best practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies.

CISA encourages organizations to implement recommended cybersecurity strategies for proactive defense of ICS assets.

Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available on the ICS webpage at cisa.gov/ics in the technical information paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B--Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies.

Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.

CISA also recommends users take the following measures to protect themselves from social engineering attacks:

  • Do not click web links or open attachments in unsolicited email messages.
  • Refer to Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams for more information on avoiding email scams.
  • Refer to Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information on social engineering attacks.

No known public exploitation specifically targeting these vulnerabilities has been reported to CISA at this time.


Revision History​

  • Initial Release Date: 2026-10-01
DateRevisionSummary
2026-10-011Initial Publication

Legal Notice and Terms of Use​

 

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