CVEvulnerability

CVE-2021-22681

9.8 CRITICAL Known exploited Published 2021-03-03 Modified 2026-06-17 Official page ↗

CISA Known Exploited Vulnerability

Rockwell Multiple Products Insufficient Protected Credentials Vulnerability — Rockwell Multiple Products

Multiple Rockwell products contain an insufficient protected credentials vulnerability. Studio 5000 Logix Designer software may allow a key to be discovered. This key is used to verify Logix controllers are communicating with Rockwell Automation design software. If successfully exploited, this vulnerability could allow an unauthorized application to connect with Logix controllers. To leverage this vulnerability, an unauthorized user would require network access to the controller.

Added to KEV
2026-03-05
Remediation due
2026-03-26
Ransomware use
Unknown
Required action
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Notes
https://support.rockwellautomation.com/app/answers/answer_view/a_id/1130301/~/cve-2021-22681%3A-authentication-bypass-vulnerability-found-in-logix-controllers- ; https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-21-056-03 ; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22681
Status
Analyzed
Published
2021-03-03
Last modified
2026-06-17
Assigner
[email protected]
CVSS 3.1 ([email protected])
9.8 CRITICAL — CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 3.1 (134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0)
9.8 CRITICAL — CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0 ([email protected])
7.5 HIGH — AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Weaknesses
CWE-522

Description

Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 Logix Designer Versions 21 and later, and RSLogix 5000 Versions 16 through 20 use a key to verify Logix controllers are communicating with Rockwell Automation CompactLogix 1768, 1769, 5370, 5380, 5480: ControlLogix 5550, 5560, 5570, 5580; DriveLogix 5560, 5730, 1794-L34; Compact GuardLogix 5370, 5380; GuardLogix 5570, 5580; SoftLogix 5800. Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 Logix Designer Versions 21 and later and RSLogix 5000: Versions 16 through 20 are vulnerable because an unauthenticated attacker could bypass this verification mechanism and authenticate with Rockwell Automation CompactLogix 1768, 1769, 5370, 5380, 5480: ControlLogix 5550, 5560, 5570, 5580; DriveLogix 5560, 5730, 1794-L34; Compact GuardLogix 5370, 5380; GuardLogix 5570, 5580; SoftLogix 5800.

Affected configurations

• rockwellautomation factorytalk services platform (>= 2.10) • rockwellautomation rslogix 5000 (>= 16 <= 20) • rockwellautomation studio 5000 logix designer (>= 21.0)

Related

Weakness · CWE (1)

  • CWE-522 Insufficiently Protected Credentials weakness

References