CVE-2023-6409

Project-file access via hard-coded backdoor key

Published Feb 14, 2024 · Updated May 12, 2025

Hard-coded credentials in EcoStruxure Control Expert before 16.0 allow local users to open application-password-protected project files. Its application-password logic contains an embedded backdoor key that accepts unauthorized access instead of enforcing the project password. The same component affects EcoStruxure Process Expert before 2023; exploitation requires local file access and permits protected project data to be read or altered.

CVSS severity7.7
High
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Hard-coded credentials in EcoStruxure Control Expert before 16.0 allow local users to open application-password-protected project files. Its application-password logic contains an embedded backdoor key that accepts unauthorized access instead of enforcing the project password. The same component affects EcoStruxure Process Expert before 2023; exploitation requires local file access and permits protected project data to be read or altered.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-6409
Published
Feb 14, 2024
Updated
May 12, 2025
Vendor
Distributed Data Systems
Product
EcoStruxure Control Expert
Classifications
CWE-798, T1552.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 14, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 12, 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=Versions prior to v16.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Distributed Data Systems · EcoStruxure Control Expertversion=Versions prior to v16.0
Distributed Data Systems · EcoStruxure Process Expertversion=Versions prior to v2023

Published CVSS scores

7.7Schneider ElectricCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
7.7NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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.

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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-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials
T1552.001Unsecured Credentials: Credentials In Files

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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