# ABB B&R Automation Studio SQLite flaws enable RCE

Published: 2026-05-21 · Severity: high · Sectors: energy
Canonical: https://vorant.io/reports/5d47fbfe-5b41-5086-a2c1-283fa69454e0/abb-b-r-automation-studio-sqlite-flaws-enable-rce

> Multiple SQLite vulnerabilities in ABB B&R Automation Studio <6.5 could enable unauthorized access or RCE; update to version 6.5 available.

ABB B&R Automation Studio versions prior to 6.5 contain 26 vulnerabilities stemming from outdated SQLite library components. The most critical issues are integer overflows in SQLite's concat_ws() function (CVE-2025-3277) leading to 4GB heap buffer overflow, memory corruption in aggregate handling (CVE-2025-6965), and heap-based buffer overflows in session handling (CVE-2023-7104). Additional flaws include use-after-free conditions, NULL pointer dereference, and denial-of-service vectors across FTS3 extension handling, ALTER TABLE operations, and query processing.

ABB reports no successful exploitation observed during testing, but states these vulnerabilities could enable unauthorized access, data exposure, or remote code execution if exploited. The product is deployed globally in critical energy infrastructure. ABB has released version 6.5 which corrects all identified vulnerabilities by replacing the outdated SQLite component. Organizations should prioritize patching on an urgent basis given the ICS deployment context and the range of attack vectors present across multiple SQLite functions.

## Mentioned in this report

- Vulnerabilities: CVE-2015-3416, CVE-2015-3717, CVE-2015-5895 (poc), CVE-2015-6607, CVE-2016-6153, CVE-2017-10989, CVE-2018-20346, CVE-2018-20505, CVE-2018-20506, CVE-2018-8740, CVE-2019-19645, CVE-2019-19646, CVE-2019-8457, CVE-2020-11655, CVE-2020-11656, CVE-2020-13434, CVE-2020-13435, CVE-2020-13630, CVE-2020-13631, CVE-2020-13632, CVE-2020-15358, CVE-2022-35737, CVE-2023-7104, CVE-2025-3277, CVE-2025-6965 (poc)

## Detection guidance (public sample)

### B&R Automation Studio Spawning Script Interpreter or Shell

ATT&CK: T1203

B&R Automation Studio launching a command shell or scripting host, which could indicate client-side exploitation of its bundled SQLite library (memory-corruption flaws fixed in 6.5). Auto-generated starting point — validate and tune in your environment before deploying. IOC matches can false-positive on shared infrastructure and decay as adversary infrastructure rotates.

```yaml
title: B&R Automation Studio Spawning Script Interpreter or Shell
description: Detects the B&R Automation Studio IDE spawning a command shell, PowerShell
  or a script host. Automation Studio versions before 6.5 bundle a vulnerable SQLite
  library (heap overflow, use-after-free), so a malicious project or database file
  could lead to code execution inside the IDE process. This is a post-exploitation
  heuristic based on the parent/child relation, not a vulnerability-specific signature.
  The ABB advisory reports no observed exploitation.
tags:
- attack.execution
- attack.t1203
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    ParentImage|endswith: \AutomationStudio.exe
    Image|endswith:
    - \cmd.exe
    - \powershell.exe
    - \pwsh.exe
    - \wscript.exe
    - \cscript.exe
    - \mshta.exe
    - \rundll32.exe
    - \regsvr32.exe
    - \certutil.exe
    - \bitsadmin.exe
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Engineers running build or deployment scripts, or custom pre/post-build steps, from
  within Automation Studio
- Automation Studio add-ons or installers that invoke cmd.exe for setup tasks
level: medium
id: 7b9603f5-3ac2-571c-8de8-4fb58563b1f9
status: experimental
author: Vorant
references:
- https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-26-141-03
```

Behavioural rules are generated from public reporting — validate in your environment before deploying.

Source reporting: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-26-141-03

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