CVE-2023-27858

Code execution via uninitialized pointer access

Published Oct 27, 2023 · Updated Sep 9, 2024

Code execution in Rockwell Automation Arena Simulation before 16.20.02 allows attackers to run code through a malicious file. The application accesses an uninitialized pointer while processing the file; Rockwell has not disclosed the affected parser or pointer operation. Exploitation requires a user to open the supplied file, and successful code runs in the affected application's context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.25%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code execution in Rockwell Automation Arena Simulation before 16.20.02 allows attackers to run code through a malicious file. The application accesses an uninitialized pointer while processing the file; Rockwell has not disclosed the affected parser or pointer operation. Exploitation requires a user to open the supplied file, and successful code runs in the affected application's context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-27858
Published
Oct 27, 2023
Updated
Sep 9, 2024
Vendor
Rockwell Automation
Product
Arena Simulation
Classifications
CWE-824, CAPEC-100, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 27, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 9, 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=0 <16.20.02
  2. Affected versionversion=All versions before the 16.20.02 Patch

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Rockwell Automation · Arena Simulationversion=0 <16.20.02; version=All versions before the 16.20.02 Patch

Published CVSS scores

7.8Rockwell AutomationCVSS: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-824Access of Uninitialized Pointer
CAPEC-100Overflow Buffers
T1204.002Malicious File
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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