Pre-auth code execution via arbitrary EpicMo file write
Published Jan 30, 2024 · Updated Jun 17, 2025
An exposed dangerous function in Honeywell ControlEdge UOC allows remote attackers to modify controller files through unauthenticated EpicMo requests. The EpicMo LoadFileToModule handler accepts an attacker-controlled destination path and data without validation or path limits. Access to the OT network is sufficient; overwriting a startup-loaded shared object and rebooting a Virtual UOC yields unauthorized code execution.
Summary
What happened
An exposed dangerous function in Honeywell ControlEdge UOC allows remote attackers to modify controller files through unauthenticated EpicMo requests. The EpicMo LoadFileToModule handler accepts an attacker-controlled destination path and data without validation or path limits. Access to the OT network is sufficient; overwriting a startup-loaded shared object and rebooting a Virtual UOC yields unauthorized code execution.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-5389
- Published
- Jan 30, 2024
- Updated
- Jun 17, 2025
- Vendor
- Honeywell Technologies
- Product
- ControlEdge Unit Operations Controller
- Classifications
- CWE-749, CAPEC-126, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 30, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jun 17, 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.
- Affected versionversion=510.1 <=510.2 HF13
- Affected versionversion=511.1 <=511.5 TCU4 HF3
- Affected versionversion=520.1 <=520.1 TCU4
- Affected versionversion=520.2 <=520.2 TCU4
- Affected versionversion=520.2 TCU4 HFR2 <=511.5 TCU4 HF3
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
- Team82 Virtual UOC pre-auth RCE demonstrationproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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