Siemens Mendix Studio Pro CVE-2025-40592 Path Traversal Security Alert

Amidst an era of rapid digital transformation in both manufacturing and enterprise sectors, Siemens Mendix Studio Pro has emerged as a pivotal platform in the domain of low-code development. Lauded for its ability to empower domain experts and developers alike to rapidly build sophisticated applications, Mendix is deeply embedded in critical infrastructure environments worldwide. However, with great utility comes significant responsibility for operational security—a focus thrown into sharp relief by a recently disclosed vulnerability in Mendix Studio Pro, cataloged as CVE-2025-40592.

Mendix Studio Pro: A Cornerstone of Low-Code Development​

Siemens Mendix Studio Pro has become a mainstay across critical manufacturing and other industries thanks to its visual, low-code interface. By allowing the rapid assembly of business logic and user interfaces from reusable modules and marketplace components, Mendix slashes traditional development timelines and democratizes app creation. Yet, as Mendix applications proliferate in operational technology (OT) and IT environments, so too do the security risks associated with its extensibility and modular design.

The Path Traversal Vulnerability (CVE-2025-40592): Scope and Impact​

On June 17, 2025, both CISA and Siemens jointly disclosed a path traversal vulnerability affecting Mendix Studio Pro across multiple major releases. The flaw, which exists in the platform’s module installation process, allows an attacker to bundle a malicious payload within a specially crafted module or library. Upon installation, this payload can write or modify files outside the legitimate bounds of a project directory, potentially impacting files elsewhere on the developer's machine or network.
According to Siemens’ advisory [SSA-627195], the following versions are affected:

• Mendix Studio Pro 8: Versions prior to V8.18.35
• Mendix Studio Pro 9: Versions prior to V9.24.35
• Mendix Studio Pro 10: Versions prior to V10.23.0
• Mendix Studio Pro 10.6: Versions prior to V10.6.24
• Mendix Studio Pro 10.12: Versions prior to V10.12.17
• Mendix Studio Pro 10.18: Versions prior to V10.18.7
• Mendix Studio Pro 11: All versions (no fix available as of writing)

Technical Analysis and Attack Vector​

The vulnerability hinges on the improper limitation of pathnames (CWE-22: Path Traversal). Specifically, a crafted ZIP archive representing a Mendix module or library can include path sequences such as ../, which—absent adequate checks—cause files to be written outside the intended directory upon extraction. This allows an attacker with the ability to convince a user to install a malicious module (e.g., distributed via Mendix Marketplace or third-party source) to potentially overwrite critical files on the system.

• Attack Complexity: High. User interaction is required—typically manual module installation.
• Privileges Required: None, apart from what the user executing Studio Pro has locally.
• Exploitable Remotely: Yes, if social engineering or compromise of trusted distribution channels is involved.

CVSS Scoring and Severity​

• CVSS v3.1 Base Score: 6.1 (Medium)
• CVSS v4.0 Base Score: 4.6 (Low to Medium)

The relatively moderate scores reflect the necessity of user action and the high complexity of a successful attack, but do not negate the seriousness—especially in regulated industrial settings where regulatory fines or cascading system damage could result.

Potential Consequences​

Successful exploitation grants an attacker write capabilities outside the project directory, enabling actions such as:

• Overwriting configuration files or scripts
• Modifying application logic undetected
• Planting further malicious code for future execution

Although the vulnerability does not directly lead to remote code execution or information disclosure, it paves the way for more sophisticated post-exploitation attacks. The impact could range from subtle tampering (e.g., altering business logic) to significant operational disruption if key files are overwritten.

Global Relevance: Critical Manufacturing and Beyond​

Mendix’s presence in critical infrastructure spans across geographies, with significant deployments in sectors linked to critical manufacturing and industrial control. Siemens’ global reach—including an HQ in Germany but operational footprints worldwide—means the impact surface is broad. That Siemens itself disclosed this vulnerability to CISA indicates a proactive approach to vulnerability management, yet also underscores the growing intersection of OT and IT vulnerabilities as platforms like Mendix continue to bridge these domains.

Vendor Response and Mitigation Strategies​

Siemens’ response has been prompt and methodical. For most affected versions, patched updates are already available, with explicit guidance to upgrade to minimally secure releases. The table below summarizes the mitigation status per affected stream:

Product Version	Patched Version	Fix Availability
Studio Pro 8	V8.18.35+	Yes
Studio Pro 9	V9.24.35+	Yes
Studio Pro 10	V10.23.0+	Yes
Studio Pro 10.6	V10.6.24+	Yes
Studio Pro 10.12	V10.12.17+	Yes
Studio Pro 10.18	V10.18.7+	Yes
Studio Pro 11	Not yet available	No (as of publication)

Siemens advises users of Studio Pro 11 to implement strict controls over module installation and refrain from loading untrusted or unverified modules. For all versions, standard hardening guidance applies: restricting local and network access, limiting privileges, and ensuring device operation in a protected IT environment.
Security-conscious operators are advised to:

• Limit module sources to trusted, verified repositories (e.g., official Mendix Marketplace)
• Employ endpoint monitoring to detect unauthorized file modifications
• Follow operational guidelines for industrial security as detailed on Siemens’ official CERT portal and industrial security webpage

CISA further recommends adherence to defense-in-depth strategies and regular vulnerability assessment as a matter of routine operational hygiene.

No Known Exploitation, But Vigilance Required​

As of publication, neither Siemens nor CISA have reported evidence of public exploitation in the wild. The attack complexity, and the absence of proof-of-concept code in open forums, place this vulnerability in a ‘watchful concern’ rather than emergency response category. However, the history of supply-chain attacks, especially those leveraging trusted update mechanisms or third-party marketplaces, underscores the latent risk.

Critical Analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Forward Outlook​

Notable Strengths​

• Rapid Disclosure and Vendor Transparency: Siemens’ self-reporting of the vulnerability to CISA demonstrates an advanced security posture and respect for responsible disclosure processes. The company’s continued updates and open advisories lend credibility and foster community awareness.
• Patch Velocity: The swift release of patched versions across multiple product streams is commendable, though the outstanding fix for Studio Pro 11 is a lingering gap.
• Cross-industry Impact Recognition: By explicitly acknowledging Mendix’s critical infrastructure footprint, both Siemens and regulatory agencies like CISA have responded with the right level of urgency.

Potential Risks and Shortcomings​

• Delay for Studio Pro 11 Users: The absence of an immediate fix for the latest major version (Studio Pro 11) is concerning. Organizations on bleeding-edge releases are often those at the innovation forefront—ironically, these now face the longest wait for remediation or must adopt compensating controls at potentially significant operational cost.
• Ecosystem Threat via Marketplace Modules: The vulnerability highlights how software marketplaces, when not rigorously vetted, can act as vectors for exploit propagation. As developers increasingly rely on third-party code, the risk of accidental or deliberate introduction of malicious logic rises.
• User-dependent Security: Given the exploit requires user interaction (module installation), this places significant reliance on user awareness and training. Social engineering remains a persistent threat vector, and technical controls to preempt risky behavior may be insufficiently emphasized.
• Ambiguity on Scope of Write Access: While Siemens’ advisory notes “write or modify arbitrary files,” the degree of file system exposure depends on the execution context. If Studio Pro is run with elevated privileges, the impact could extend well beyond user-space directories—a potential point for further community research and clarification.

The Larger Picture: Supply Chain Risk in Low-Code Environments​

CVE-2025-40592 joins a growing list of supply chain and module ecosystem vulnerabilities affecting popular development frameworks and IDEs. The Mendix example is especially salient because, in many industrial and enterprise settings, low-code tools are used by power users who may lack traditional developer security literacy. This democratization, while vital for speed, increases risk unless paired with robust sandboxing and permissioning regimes.

• The module installation attack surface is a recurring theme across IDEs, package managers, and marketplaces—recent years have seen similar disclosures in platforms like VS Code extensions and Python’s pip.
• Best practice increasingly demands module and dependency signing, repository curation, and fine-grained runtime privilege separation.

Recommendations for Security Leaders and Developers​

• Immediate Version Review: All organizations using Mendix Studio Pro should inventory their deployments and update vulnerable instances per Siemens’ recommendations.
• Module Vetting: Establish organizational policies for module source verification. Where feasible, restrict installation to modules signed by trusted parties or those subjected to code review.
• Monitoring and Auditing: Implement real-time monitoring on developer machines for unauthorized file writes outside project directories. Tools such as endpoint detection and response (EDR), file integrity monitoring, and application control solutions can add layers of defense.
• Least Privilege Execution: Run development tools under standard user contexts, never with administrative rights, to minimize potential blast radius.
• Ongoing Awareness Training: Foster a security-first mindset among developers and citizen developers alike. Social engineering resilience should become a core pillar alongside technical controls.
• Tabletop Exercises: Simulate exploitation scenarios to test and refine incident response, especially concerning low-code workflow poisoning and cross-project contamination.

Looking Forward: The Evolving Low-Code Security Landscape​

The rapid adoption of platforms like Mendix means that even relatively modest vulnerabilities can have outsized reach, especially when modules and reusable components are central workflows. Security must now extend from end product to supply chain, encompassing everything from module authorship to runtime environment controls.
Mendix’s architecture will likely evolve in response—not only patching this issue, but hardening installer logic, expanding auditability, and potentially adopting whitelisting or sandboxing strategies for module installs. Siemens’ handling of CVE-2025-40592 may serve as a template for other low-code vendors grappling with similar architecture and ecosystem security concerns.

Conclusion: Balancing Agility with Security​

Mendix Studio Pro remains a transformative force for rapid application development in the modern enterprise and critical infrastructure sectors. The path traversal vulnerability exposed by CVE-2025-40592 is a timely reminder that the same platform extensibility enabling business agility can, if left unchecked, introduce subtle but consequential risks.
By prioritizing timely updates, practicing supply chain vigilance, and embedding security at every development tier, organizations can continue to realize the full potential of Mendix with confidence. Siemens’ proactive engagement and responsive patching set a strong example—but ultimate security will always be a shared responsibility between software vendors, enterprises, and the broader developer community. In the era of democratized software creation, continuous vigilance is not optional—it’s a baseline.

---

Source: CISA Siemens Mendix Studio Pro | CISA