ABB Freelance Security Lock

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Summary

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow access to underlying OS functions even when Freelance Operations is active, depending on system configuration and user permissions.

The following versions of ABB Freelance Security Lock are affected:

• ABB System Version (<=Freelance 2013) installed with ABB Freelance Security Lock(All versions) vers:all/* 
• ABB System Version (Freelance 2013 SP1) installed with ABB Freelance Security Lock(All versions) vers:all/* 
• ABB System Version (Freelance 2016) installed with ABB Freelance Security Lock(All versions) vers:all/* 
• ABB System Version (Freelance 2016 SP1) installed with ABB Freelance Security Lock(All versions) vers:all/* 
• ABB System Version (Freelance 2019) installed with ABB Freelance Security Lock(All versions) vers:all/* 
• ABB System Version (Freelance 2019 SP1) installed with ABB Freelance Security Lock(All versions) vers:all/* 
• ABB System Version (Freelance 2019 SP1 FP1) installed with ABB Freelance Security Lock(All versions) vers:all/* 
• ABB System Version (Freelance 2024) installed with ABB Freelance Security Lock(All versions) vers:all/* 

Background

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

Vulnerabilities

Acknowledgments

• Gergely Regweld Szini reported this vulnerability to ABB

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.

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). Recognize VPNs may have vulnerabilities, should be updated to the most recent version available, and are 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. 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 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: 2026-06-10

Legal Notice and Terms of Use

• June 23, 2026
• CISA – Cybersecurity Advisories
• jawad_admin