CVE-2023-2638

Service interruption via unprotected backup archive restore

Published Jun 13, 2023 · Updated Jan 2, 2025

Improper authorization in Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk System Services 6.20 and earlier allows local users to interrupt service. FTSSBackupRestore.exe accepts a crafted configuration archive as a valid backup without verifying that the archive is password protected. Exploitation requires an authenticated non-administrator to create the archive and user interaction during a restore; the interruption mode is undisclosed.

CVSS severity5.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper authorization in Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk System Services 6.20 and earlier allows local users to interrupt service. FTSSBackupRestore.exe accepts a crafted configuration archive as a valid backup without verifying that the archive is password protected. Exploitation requires an authenticated non-administrator to create the archive and user interaction during a restore; the interruption mode is undisclosed.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-2638
Published
Jun 13, 2023
Updated
Jan 2, 2025
Vendor
Rockwell Automation
Product
FactoryTalk System Services
Classifications
CWE-287, CAPEC-115, T1565.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 13, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 2, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=<= 6.20

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Rockwell Automation · FactoryTalk System Servicesversion=<= 6.20

Published CVSS scores

5.9Rockwell AutomationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.0NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-287Improper Authentication
CAPEC-115Authentication Bypass
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

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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