CVE-2021-33014Network attack vector

VxWorks shell access via hard-coded credentials

Published May 26, 2022 · Updated Apr 16, 2025

Use of hard-coded credentials in KUKA KR C4 before 8.7 and KSS allows remote authenticated users to gain VxWorks shell access. The controller accepts embedded credentials after login to open the underlying VxWorks command shell; public records do not identify the affected account or service. Low-privileged network access is required, and resulting shell control permits reading, changing, or interrupting controller operations.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.88%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use of hard-coded credentials in KUKA KR C4 before 8.7 and KSS allows remote authenticated users to gain VxWorks shell access. The controller accepts embedded credentials after login to open the underlying VxWorks command shell; public records do not identify the affected account or service. Low-privileged network access is required, and resulting shell control permits reading, changing, or interrupting controller operations.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-33014
Published
May 26, 2022
Updated
Apr 16, 2025
Vendor
KUKA
Product
KR C4
Classifications
CWE-798, T0859
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 26, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 16, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=All <v8.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

KUKA · KR C4version=All <v8.7
KUKA · KUKA.SystemSoftwareversion=All

Published CVSS scores

8.8ICS-CERTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.0NVDAV:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials
T0859Valid Accounts

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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