CVE-2020-14516Network attack vector

Unauthenticated account creation via improper password hashing

Published Mar 18, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper password hashing in Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk Services Platform 6.10.00 and 6.11.00 allows remote attackers to create users. The SHA-256 password routine fails to hash native FactoryTalk Security user passwords properly, enabling unauthorized account creation. The administration console is reachable without authentication; created accounts can modify or delete data in connected FactoryTalk software.

CVSS severity10.0
Critical
EPSS probability4.09%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper password hashing in Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk Services Platform 6.10.00 and 6.11.00 allows remote attackers to create users. The SHA-256 password routine fails to hash native FactoryTalk Security user passwords properly, enabling unauthorized account creation. The administration console is reachable without authentication; created accounts can modify or delete data in connected FactoryTalk software.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-14516
Published
Mar 18, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Rockwell Automation
Product
FactoryTalk Services Platform
Classifications
CWE-916, T1136
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 18, 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=v6.10.00, v6.11.00

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Rockwell Automation · FactoryTalk Services Platformversion=v6.10.00, v6.11.00

Published CVSS scores

10.0NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
10.0Rockwell AutomationCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-916Use of Password Hash With Insufficient Computational Effort
T1136Create Account

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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