ICS Advisory

Inductive Automation Ignition Software

Release Date

March 12, 2026

Alert Code ICSA-26-071-06 Related topics: Industrial Control System Vulnerabilities, Industrial Control Systems View CSAF

Summary

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute malicious code with OS application service account permissions that the authenticated, privileged application user did not intend on running.

The following versions of Inductive Automation Ignition Software are affected:

• Ignition Software <8.3.0 (CVE-2025-13913)

| CVSS | Vendor | Equipment | Vulnerabilities |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| v3 6.3 | Inductive Automation | Inductive Automation Ignition Software | Deserialization of Untrusted Data |

Background

• Critical Infrastructure Sectors: Information Technology
• Countries/Areas Deployed: Worldwide
• Company Headquarters Location: United States

Vulnerabilities

Expand All +

CVE-2025-13913

A privileged Ignition user, intentionally or otherwise, imports an external file with a specially crafted payload, which executes embedded malicious code during deserialization.

View CVE Details

Affected Products

Inductive Automation Ignition Software

Vendor:
Inductive Automation Product Version:
Inductive Automation Ignition Software: <8.3.0 Product Status:
known_affected

Remediations

Mitigation
Fix - upgrade Ignition software from 8.1.x to 8.3.0 or greater.

Mitigation
MITIGATION (8.1.x Linux). Implement Ignition Security Hardening Guide Appendix A. https://inductiveautomation.com/resources/article/ignition-security-hardening-guide

Mitigation
MITIGATION (8.1.x Windows). Covered in Ignition Security Hardening Guide Appendix A. 1. Create a new dedicated local Windows account that will be used exclusively for the Ignition service (e.g. svc-ign). a. The best security practice is that the Ignition service should not be a domain account (unless otherwise needed). b. Remove all group memberships from the service account (including Users and Administrators). c. Add to security policy to log in as a service. d. Add to "Deny log on locally" security policy. 2. Provide full read/write access only to the Ignition installation directory for the service account created in #1. a. Add read/write permissions to other directories in the local filesystem as needed (e.g.: if configured to use optional Enterprise Administration Module to write automated backups to the file system). 3. Set deny access settings for service account on other directories not needed by the Ignition service. a. Specifically the C:\Windows, C:\Users, and directories for any other applications in the Program Files or Program Files(x86) directories. b. Use java param to change temp directory to a location within the Ignition install directory so the Users folder can be denied access to the Ignition service account.

Mitigation
BEST PRACTICES (8.1.x and 8.3.x)4. Restrict project imports to verified and trusted sources only, ideally using checksums or digital signatures.5. Use multiple environments (e.g. Dev, Test, Prod) with a staging workflow so that new data is never introduced directly to Production environments. See Ignition Deployment Best Practices.6. When feasible, segment or isolate Ignition gateways from corporate resources and Windows Domains.a. The Ignition service account or AD server object should never need Windows Domain or Windows Active Directory privileges. This would only be needed if an Asset Owners IT or OT department uses this for management outside Ignition.b. Ignition may be federated with Active Directory environments (e.g. OT domains) by entering "Authentication Profile" credentials within the Ignition gateway itself. This could use secure LDAP, SAML, or OpenID Connect.7. When feasible, enforce strong credential management and MFA for all users with Designer permissions (8.1.x and 8.3.x), Config Page permissions (8.1.x), and Config Write permissions (8.3.x).8. When feasible, deploy Ignition within hardened or containerized environments.

Relevant CWE: CWE-502 Deserialization of Untrusted Data

Metrics

| CVSS Version | Base Score | Base Severity | Vector String |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 3.1 | 6.3 | MEDIUM | CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |

Acknowledgments

• Nik Tsytsarkin, Ismail Aydemir, and Ryan Hall of Meta reported this vulnerability to Inductive Automation
• Nathan Boeger and Joel Specht of Inductive Automation (security@inductiveautomation.com) reported this vulnerability 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 this vulnerability, such as:

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 this vulnerability has been reported to CISA at this time. This vulnerability is not exploitable remotely.

Revision History

• Initial Release Date: 2026-03-12

| Date | Revision | Summary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-12 | 1 | Initial Publication |

Legal Notice and Terms of Use

This product is provided subject to this Notification and this Privacy & Use policy.

Vendor

• Inductive Automation

Tags

Sector: Information Technology Sector Topics: Industrial Control System Vulnerabilities, Industrial Control Systems

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