CVE-2020-10048

Protected-picture disclosure via insecure password verification

Published Feb 9, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Authentication bypass in SIMATIC WinCC before 7.5 SP2 and all SIMATIC PCS 7 versions allows physically proximate attackers to read protected pictures. The Graphics Designer tool uses an insecure password-verification process for password-protected picture files, allowing the protection to be bypassed. Physical access to a machine running the software is required; the consequence is disclosure of private picture content only.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.34%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in SIMATIC WinCC before 7.5 SP2 and all SIMATIC PCS 7 versions allows physically proximate attackers to read protected pictures. The Graphics Designer tool uses an insecure password-verification process for password-protected picture files, allowing the protection to be bypassed. Physical access to a machine running the software is required; the consequence is disclosure of private picture content only.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-10048
Published
Feb 9, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Siemens
Product
SIMATIC WinCC
Classifications
CWE-287, CWE-288, T1005
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 9, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=All versions < V7.5 SP2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Siemens · SIMATIC WinCCversion=All versions < V7.5 SP2
Siemens · SIMATIC PCS 7version=All versions

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
2.1NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-287Improper Authentication
CWE-288Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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