Rockwell Automation Arena buffer overflow flaws require update
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Three memory corruption bugs in Rockwell Automation Arena allow local arbitrary code execution when users open malicious files.
CISA has published an advisory on three local code execution vulnerabilities affecting Rockwell Automation Arena version 16.20.09 and earlier. The flaws comprise an out-of-bounds read (CVE-2025-7025), a stack-based buffer overflow (CVE-2025-7032), and a heap-based buffer overflow (CVE-2025-7033), all resulting from improper validation of user-supplied data. All three vulnerabilities require a legitimate user to open a malicious DOE file to trigger exploitation, and all carry a CVSS v4 base score of 8.4. Successful exploitation enables information disclosure and arbitrary code execution on the affected system. The vulnerabilities are local only and not remotely exploitable. Researcher Michael Heinzl reported these issues to CISA. No public exploitation has been reported as of the advisory date. Rockwell Automation recommends immediate updating to Arena version 16.20.10 or later. Organizations should minimize network exposure of control systems, isolate them behind firewalls from business networks, and apply secure remote access controls such as VPNs where remote access is required.
Mentioned in this report
Detection guidance
Rockwell Arena Spawning Shell or Scripting Child Process
Arena simulation software spawning command interpreters, script hosts or LOLBins, consistent with code execution after a user opens a malicious DOE file (CVE-2025-7025/7032/7033). 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.
title: Rockwell Arena Spawning Shell or Scripting Child Process
description: Detects Rockwell Automation Arena (Arena.exe) spawning command interpreters,
script hosts or common LOLBins. Arena does not normally launch these, so a child
process may indicate memory-corruption exploitation via a malicious DOE file (CVE-2025-7025,
CVE-2025-7032, CVE-2025-7033).
tags:
- attack.execution
- attack.t1204.002
- attack.t1203
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection:
ParentImage|endswith: \Arena.exe
Image|endswith:
- \cmd.exe
- \powershell.exe
- \pwsh.exe
- \wscript.exe
- \cscript.exe
- \mshta.exe
- \rundll32.exe
- \regsvr32.exe
- \certutil.exe
- \bitsadmin.exe
- \msiexec.exe
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Custom Arena models or add-ins that deliberately shell out to cmd.exe or scripts
for data import/export
level: high
id: 37c0e604-f40d-5fc2-9b2c-3bacfef96d9a
status: experimental
author: Vorant
references:
- https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-25-219-04
Rockwell Arena Opening DOE File From User-Writable or Download Location
Arena launched with a .doe file from Downloads, Temp or mail/browser cache paths, the delivery vector for the Arena DOE file vulnerabilities. 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.
title: Rockwell Arena Opening DOE File From User-Writable or Download Location
description: Detects Arena.exe started with a .doe file argument located in Downloads,
Temp, or mail/browser cache directories. Opening an untrusted DOE file is the required
user action to trigger the Arena buffer overflow flaws. Triage context rule, best
correlated with child process or crash activity.
tags:
- attack.execution
- attack.t1204.002
logsource:
category: process_creation
product: windows
detection:
selection_img:
Image|endswith: \Arena.exe
selection_file:
CommandLine|contains: .doe
selection_path:
CommandLine|contains:
- \Downloads\
- \AppData\Local\Temp\
- \INetCache\
- \Content.Outlook\
condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
- Engineers legitimately opening DOE model files received from colleagues or vendors
via email or download
level: low
id: 674c5c4e-4185-5f11-85a9-4839867eb911
status: experimental
author: Vorant
references:
- https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-25-219-04
Behavioural rules are generated from public reporting — validate in your environment before deploying.
Source reporting: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-25-219-04
What this brief leaves out
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