CVE-2021-38436

Code execution via malformed project file parsing

Published Oct 18, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Memory corruption in FATEK Automation WinProladder 3.30 and earlier allows attackers to execute code through a malformed project file. The project-file parser does not properly validate user-supplied data before processing it, corrupting memory in the current process; public records identify no narrower function or operation. Exploitation requires a user to open the crafted file, after which attacker-controlled code runs with that user's process privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.97%
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 FATEK Automation WinProladder 3.30 and earlier allows attackers to execute code through a malformed project file. The project-file parser does not properly validate user-supplied data before processing it, corrupting memory in the current process; public records identify no narrower function or operation. Exploitation requires a user to open the crafted file, after which attacker-controlled code runs with that user's process privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-38436
Published
Oct 18, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
FATEK Automation Corporation
Product
WinProladder
Classifications
CWE-119, CWE-787, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 18, 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=All <=3.30

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

FATEK Automation Corporation · WinProladderversion=All <=3.30

Published CVSS scores

6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8ICS-CERTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/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-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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