CVE-2021-34597

Arbitrary file writes via project archive traversal

Published Nov 4, 2021 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Path traversal in Phoenix Contact PC Worx 1.88 and earlier allows attackers to write arbitrary files by opening a crafted project archive. The project loader extracts archive entries without confining their resolved paths to the selected project directory. Exploitation requires access to an original project archive, replacement with the manipulated copy on the programming workstation, and a user to load it.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.65%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in Phoenix Contact PC Worx 1.88 and earlier allows attackers to write arbitrary files by opening a crafted project archive. The project loader extracts archive entries without confining their resolved paths to the selected project directory. Exploitation requires access to an original project archive, replacement with the manipulated copy on the programming workstation, and a user to load it.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-34597
Published
Nov 4, 2021
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Phoenix Contact
Product
PC Worx
Classifications
CWE-20, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 4, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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=PC Worx <=1.88
  2. Affected versionversion=PC Worx-Express <=1.88

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Phoenix Contact · PC Worxversion=PC Worx <=1.88; version=PC Worx-Express <=1.88

Published CVSS scores

7.8CERT@VDECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NVDAV:N/AC:M/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

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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