CVE-2021-42577Network attack vector

Client crash via malformed OPC UA Abort message

Published Mar 11, 2022 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Improper input validation in Softing OPC UA C++ SDK before 5.70 allows remote attackers to crash a client with a malformed Abort message. The client-side Abort-message handler fails to reject malformed packet data before dereferencing a null pointer, terminating the client process. Exploitation requires the client to connect to an untrusted or compromised OPC UA server, and the resulting service interruption requires a process restart.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.96%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in Softing OPC UA C++ SDK before 5.70 allows remote attackers to crash a client with a malformed Abort message. The client-side Abort-message handler fails to reject malformed packet data before dereferencing a null pointer, terminating the client process. Exploitation requires the client to connect to an untrusted or compromised OPC UA server, and the resulting service interruption requires a process restart.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-42577
Published
Mar 11, 2022
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-20, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 11, 2022CVE 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.0NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
7.5Softing Industrial Automation GmbHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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