CVE-2022-34838

Engineering-data manipulation via recoverable database password

Published Aug 24, 2022 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Recoverable credential storage in ABB Ability zenon 8.20 and earlier allows local users to alter engineering data and visualizations. The Configuration tool encrypts its SQL database password with a static key, allowing a special program that knows the algorithm to recover the plaintext password. Access to the host and knowledge of the algorithm are required; the recovered credential permits changes to data points and attributes that alter operator displays.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability0.15%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Recoverable credential storage in ABB Ability zenon 8.20 and earlier allows local users to alter engineering data and visualizations. The Configuration tool encrypts its SQL database password with a static key, allowing a special program that knows the algorithm to recover the plaintext password. Access to the host and knowledge of the algorithm are required; the recovered credential permits changes to data points and attributes that alter operator displays.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-34838
Published
Aug 24, 2022
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
ABB
Product
ABB Ability zenon
Classifications
CWE-257, CWE-522, T1555
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 24, 2022CVE 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=unspecified <=8.20

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

ABB · ABB Ability zenonversion=unspecified <=8.20

Published CVSS scores

8.1ABBCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.4NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
7.4ABBCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:P/RL:W/RC:C

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-257Storing Passwords in a Recoverable Format
CWE-522Insufficiently Protected Credentials
T1555Credentials from Password Stores

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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