CVE-2021-22681: Rockwell Multiple Products Insufficient Protected Credentials Vulnerability

Published Mar 3, 2021
·
Updated

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.

Other sources

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 Software

44 affected components
rockwellautomation Factorytalk Services Platform>=2.10
rockwellautomation Rslogix 5000>=16<=20
rockwellautomation Studio 5000 Logix Designer>=21.0
rockwellautomation Compact Guardlogix 5370
rockwellautomation Compact Guardlogix 5380
rockwellautomation Compactlogix 1768
rockwellautomation Compactlogix 1769
rockwellautomation Compactlogix 5370
rockwellautomation Compactlogix 5380
rockwellautomation Compactlogix 5480
rockwellautomation Controllogix 5550
rockwellautomation Controllogix 5560
rockwellautomation Controllogix 5570
rockwellautomation Controllogix 5580
rockwellautomation Drivelogix 1794-l34
rockwellautomation Drivelogix 5560
rockwellautomation Drivelogix 5730
rockwellautomation Guardlogix 5570
rockwellautomation Guardlogix 5580
rockwellautomation Softlogix 5800
Rockwell Automation RSLogix 5000: Versions 16 through 20
Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 Logix Designer>=21
Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk Security, part of the FactoryTalk Services Platform, if configured and deployed v2.10 and later
Rockwell Multiple Products
All of the following
Any of the following
rockwellautomation Factorytalk Services Platform>=2.10
rockwellautomation Rslogix 5000>=16<=20
rockwellautomation Studio 5000 Logix Designer>=21.0
Any of the following
rockwellautomation Compact Guardlogix 5370
rockwellautomation Compact Guardlogix 5380
rockwellautomation Compactlogix 1768
rockwellautomation Compactlogix 1769
rockwellautomation Compactlogix 5370
rockwellautomation Compactlogix 5380
rockwellautomation Compactlogix 5480
rockwellautomation Controllogix 5550
rockwellautomation Controllogix 5560
rockwellautomation Controllogix 5570
rockwellautomation Controllogix 5580
rockwellautomation Drivelogix 1794-l34
rockwellautomation Drivelogix 5560
rockwellautomation Drivelogix 5730
rockwellautomation Guardlogix 5570
rockwellautomation Guardlogix 5580
rockwellautomation Softlogix 5800

Event History

Mar 3, 2021
CVE Published
via MITRE·05:59 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·05:59 PM
DescriptionWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·06:15 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Mar 5, 2026
Known Exploited
via CISA·12:00 AM
Data Sourced
via CISA·12:00 AM
RemedyDescriptionAffected Software
Mar 6, 2026
Data Sourced
via ICS·07:29 PM
SeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Jul 9, 2026
News Published
via Dark Reading·08:32 PM
News Published
via Dark Reading·08:50 PM

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is CVE-2021-22681?

CVE-2021-22681 is a vulnerability in Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 Logix Designer and RSLogix 5000 that allows unauthorized access to Logix controllers.

2

What is the severity of CVE-2021-22681?

CVE-2021-22681 has a severity rating of 9.8 (Critical).

3

Which versions of Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 Logix Designer are affected?

Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 Logix Designer Versions 21 and later are affected by CVE-2021-22681.

4

Which versions of RSLogix 5000 are affected?

RSLogix 5000 Versions 16 through 20 are affected by CVE-2021-22681.

5

How can I fix CVE-2021-22681?

Apply the necessary patches and updates provided by Rockwell Automation to fix CVE-2021-22681.

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