PLC logic modification via intercepted compilation
Published Apr 1, 2022 · Updated Apr 16, 2025
Code injection in Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 Logix Designer 28 and later allows local users with administrator access to alter PLC logic. The workstation compilation process can be intercepted so generated controller bytecode diverges from the source shown to the engineer. Administrator access to the engineering workstation is required; injected logic can change controller commands and unprotected safety tasks without visible source changes.
Summary
What happened
Code injection in Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 Logix Designer 28 and later allows local users with administrator access to alter PLC logic. The workstation compilation process can be intercepted so generated controller bytecode diverges from the source shown to the engineer. Administrator access to the engineering workstation is required; injected logic can change controller commands and unprotected safety tasks without visible source changes.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-1159
- Published
- Apr 1, 2022
- Updated
- Apr 16, 2025
- Vendor
- Rockwell Automation
- Product
- Studio 5000 Logix Designer
- Classifications
- CWE-94, T0831
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 1, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 16, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=All
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- The Old Switcheroo proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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