CVE-2021-22681
Rockwell Multiple Products Insufficient Protected Credentials Vulnerability - [Actively Exploited]
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.
INFO
Published Date :
March 3, 2021, 6:15 p.m.
Last Modified :
March 6, 2026, 1:44 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
Yes !
Source :
[email protected]
CISA KEV (Known Exploited Vulnerabilities)
For the benefit of the cybersecurity community and network defenders—and to help every organization better manage vulnerabilities and keep pace with threat activity—CISA maintains the authoritative source of vulnerabilities that have been exploited in the wild.
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.
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Unknown
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
Affected Products
The following products are affected by CVE-2021-22681
vulnerability.
Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the
products
that
are
affected, the information is not represented in the table below.
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 2.0 | HIGH | [email protected] | ||||
| CVSS 3.1 | CRITICAL | [email protected] | ||||
| CVSS 3.1 | CRITICAL | 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0 |
Public PoC/Exploit Available at Github
CVE-2021-22681 has a 1 public
PoC/Exploit available at Github.
Go to the Public Exploits tab to see the list.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2021-22681.
| URL | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-21-056-03 | Third Party Advisory US Government Resource |
| https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-21-056-03 | Third Party Advisory US Government Resource |
| https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-22681 | US Government Resource |
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2021-22681 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2021-22681
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
None
Python
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2021-22681 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
-
TheCyberThrone
CISA Adds Five Flaws to Its KEV Catalog
March 6, 2026Federal agencies face a three-week deadline to remediate a set of vulnerabilities spanning consumer devices, industrial controllers, and surveillance cameras — all confirmed to be activel ... Read more
-
The Hacker News
Hikvision and Rockwell Automation CVSS 9.8 Flaws Added to CISA KEV Catalog
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on Thursday added two security flaws impacting Hikvision and Rockwell Automation products to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) ... Read more
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2021-22681 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
Modified Analysis by [email protected]
Mar. 06, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference Type CISA-ADP: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-22681 Types: US Government Resource -
CVE Modified by 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
Mar. 05, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Added Reference https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-22681 -
CVE CISA KEV Update by 9119a7d8-5eab-497f-8521-727c672e3725
Mar. 05, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Date Added 2026-03-05 Added Due Date 2026-03-26 Added 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. Added Vulnerability Name Rockwell Multiple Products Insufficient Protected Credentials Vulnerability -
CVE Modified by af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
Nov. 21, 2024
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Reference https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-21-056-03 -
CVE Modified by [email protected]
May. 14, 2024
Action Type Old Value New Value -
Reanalysis by [email protected]
Apr. 25, 2022
Action Type Old Value New Value Changed CPE Configuration AND OR *cpe:2.3:a:rockwellautomation:rslogix_5000:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 16 up to (including) 20 *cpe:2.3:a:rockwellautomation:studio_5000_logix_designer:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 21.0 OR cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compact_guardlogix_5370:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compact_guardlogix_5380:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_1768:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_1769:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_5370:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_5380:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_5480:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5550:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5560:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5570:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5580:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:drivelogix_1794-l34:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:drivelogix_5560:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:drivelogix_5730:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:guardlogix_5570:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:guardlogix_5580:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:softlogix_5800:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* AND OR *cpe:2.3:a:rockwellautomation:factorytalk_services_platform:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 2.10 *cpe:2.3:a:rockwellautomation:rslogix_5000:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 16 up to (including) 20 *cpe:2.3:a:rockwellautomation:studio_5000_logix_designer:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 21.0 OR cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compact_guardlogix_5370:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compact_guardlogix_5380:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_1768:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_1769:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_5370:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_5380:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_5480:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5550:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5560:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5570:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5580:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:drivelogix_1794-l34:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:drivelogix_5560:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:drivelogix_5730:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:guardlogix_5570:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:guardlogix_5580:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:softlogix_5800:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* -
Reanalysis by [email protected]
Apr. 12, 2022
Action Type Old Value New Value Changed CPE Configuration AND OR *cpe:2.3:a:rockwellautomation:rslogix_500:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 16 up to (including) 20 *cpe:2.3:a:rockwellautomation:studio_5000_logix_designer:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 21.0 OR cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compact_guardlogix_5370:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compact_guardlogix_5380:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_1768:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_1769:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_5370:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_5380:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_5480:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5550:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5560:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5570:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5580:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:drivelogix_1794-l34:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:drivelogix_5560:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:drivelogix_5730:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:guardlogix_5570:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:guardlogix_5580:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:softlogix_5800:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* AND OR *cpe:2.3:a:rockwellautomation:rslogix_5000:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 16 up to (including) 20 *cpe:2.3:a:rockwellautomation:studio_5000_logix_designer:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 21.0 OR cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compact_guardlogix_5370:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compact_guardlogix_5380:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_1768:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_1769:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_5370:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_5380:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_5480:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5550:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5560:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5570:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5580:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:drivelogix_1794-l34:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:drivelogix_5560:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:drivelogix_5730:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:guardlogix_5570:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:guardlogix_5580:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:softlogix_5800:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* -
Initial Analysis by [email protected]
Mar. 11, 2021
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V2 NIST (AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P) Added CVSS V3.1 NIST AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Changed Reference Type https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-21-056-03 No Types Assigned https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-21-056-03 Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource Added CWE NIST CWE-522 Added CPE Configuration AND OR *cpe:2.3:a:rockwellautomation:rslogix_500:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 16 up to (including) 20 *cpe:2.3:a:rockwellautomation:studio_5000_logix_designer:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 21.0 OR cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compact_guardlogix_5370:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compact_guardlogix_5380:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_1768:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_1769:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_5370:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_5380:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_5480:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5550:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5560:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5570:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix_5580:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:drivelogix_1794-l34:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:drivelogix_5560:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:drivelogix_5730:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:guardlogix_5570:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:guardlogix_5580:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:softlogix_5800:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*