CVE-2020-10642

SYSTEM code execution via weak registry permissions

Published Apr 13, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Privilege escalation in Rockwell Automation RSLinx Classic 4.11.00 and earlier allows local users to execute code with SYSTEM privileges. Weak permissions let a low-privileged user alter an unnamed RSLinx registry key whose contents are consumed when the application opens. An authenticated local session is required, and execution occurs only when RSLinx Classic is subsequently opened under its more privileged account.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.45%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in Rockwell Automation RSLinx Classic 4.11.00 and earlier allows local users to execute code with SYSTEM privileges. Weak permissions let a low-privileged user alter an unnamed RSLinx registry key whose contents are consumed when the application opens. An authenticated local session is required, and execution occurs only when RSLinx Classic is subsequently opened under its more privileged account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-10642
Published
Apr 13, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Rockwell Automation
Product
RSLinx Classic
Classifications
CWE-732, T1112, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 13, 2020CVE 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=Rockwell Automation RSLinx Classic versions 4.1.00 and prior

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Rockwell Automation · RSLinx Classicversion=Rockwell Automation RSLinx Classic versions 4.1.00 and prior

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8Rockwell AutomationCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-732Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource
T1112Modify Registry
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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