CVE-2021-33542

Code execution via malformed BCP project parsing

Published Jun 25, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Memory corruption in Phoenix Contact Automation Worx Software Suite 1.87 and earlier allows attackers to execute code via a crafted BCP file. The BCP parser frees unallocated memory because project data is incompletely initialized and inadequately validated. Exploitation requires access to an original bus configuration file, replacement of that file on the engineering workstation, and user interaction; deployed automation systems are unaffected.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.76%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in Phoenix Contact Automation Worx Software Suite 1.87 and earlier allows attackers to execute code via a crafted BCP file. The BCP parser frees unallocated memory because project data is incompletely initialized and inadequately validated. Exploitation requires access to an original bus configuration file, replacement of that file on the engineering workstation, and user interaction; deployed automation systems are unaffected.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-33542
Published
Jun 25, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Phoenix Contact
Product
Automation Worx Software Suite
Classifications
CWE-824, T1203, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 25, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 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=Config+ <=1.87
  2. Affected versionversion=PC Worx <=1.87
  3. Affected versionversion=PC Worx Express <=1.87

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Phoenix Contact · Automation Worx Software Suiteversion=Config+ <=1.87; version=PC Worx <=1.87; version=PC Worx Express <=1.87

Published CVSS scores

5.1NIST NVDAV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8CERT@VDECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-824Access of Uninitialized Pointer
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204.002User Execution Malicious File

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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