CVE-2020-14481

Credential disclosure via weak DeskLock encryption

Published Feb 24, 2022 · Updated Apr 17, 2025

Weak password encryption in DeskLock in Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk View Site Edition 10.0 and earlier allows local users to recover credentials. DeskLock protects Windows and DeskLock passwords with an encryption algorithm that Rockwell Automation identifies only as weak; no algorithm or key-management details are public. Local authenticated access is required, and recovery of an administrative account grants full access to Windows and certain FactoryTalk View SE components.

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

What happened

Weak password encryption in DeskLock in Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk View Site Edition 10.0 and earlier allows local users to recover credentials. DeskLock protects Windows and DeskLock passwords with an encryption algorithm that Rockwell Automation identifies only as weak; no algorithm or key-management details are public. Local authenticated access is required, and recovery of an administrative account grants full access to Windows and certain FactoryTalk View SE components.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-14481
Published
Feb 24, 2022
Updated
Apr 17, 2025
Vendor
Rockwell Automation
Product
FactoryTalk View Site Edition
Classifications
CWE-261, CWE-326, T1555
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 24, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 17, 2025Record 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=10.0
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=9.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Rockwell Automation · FactoryTalk View Site Editionversion=10.0; version=unspecified <=9.0

Published CVSS scores

2.1NISTAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N
7.8NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CISA-ADPCVSS: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

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-261Weak Encoding for Password
CWE-326Inadequate Encryption Strength
T1555Credentials from Password Stores

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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