CVE-2021-33542

mediumpriority · track · 29EPSS 0.018 · 78 %ileDEEUUS
grimoire priorityP3 · Track
Exploitable?
—
no known exploitation
Likely / severe?
1.76% (78th) EPSS
CVSS 5.1 · medium
Is it mine?
12 products
Check your exposure
Who says so?
4 sources
cnnvd · enisa_euvd · nvd · phoenix_contact_psirt

EPSS · scored 2026-10-27

Phoenix Contact Classic Automation Worx Software Suite in Version 1.87 and below is affected by a remote code execution vulnerability. Manipulated PC Worx or Config+ projects could lead to a remote code execution when unallocated memory is freed because of incompletely initialized data. The attacker needs to get access to an original bus configuration file (*.bcp) to be able to manipulate data inside. After manipulation the attacker needs to exchange the original file by the manipulated one on the application programming workstation. Availability, integrity, or confidentiality of an application programming workstation might be compromised by attacks using these vulnerabilities. Automated systems in operation which were programmed with one of the above-mentioned products are not affected.

01

remediations

Vendor fix, mitigation, or workaround guidance, as published by each source.

A vendor fix is available.

  • Fixedphoenix_contact_psirt

    With the next version of Automationworx Software Suite the affected data will be initialized completely and thereby freeing of unallocated memory will be prevented.

  • Mitigationphoenix_contact_psirt

    We strongly recommend customers to exchange project files only using secure file exchange services. Project files should not be exchanged via unencrypted email.

02

cvss

Technical severity, 0–10. One row per scoring source.

7.8
010

base score 0–10 · higher = more severe · hover a vector to decode⚠ sources disagree · medium–high · 5.1–7.8

v2.05.1mediumAV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:Pprimary · NVD / NIST USexploitability 4.9 · impact 6.4
v3.17highCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:Hprimary · NVD / NIST USexploitability 1 · impact 5.9
v3.17.8highCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:Hsecondary · ENISA EU
v3.17.8highCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:Hsecondary · info@cert.vde.comexploitability 1.8 · impact 5.9
v3.17highCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:Hsecondary · Phoenix Contact PSIRT DE
v3.16.4mediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:Usecondary · CVSS-BT (t0sche)
03

weaknesses

The CWE weakness classes this flaw belongs to.

CWE-824USCWE-824US
04

affected products (12)

Products and version ranges known to be affected.

05

advisories (1)

Vendor and ecosystem advisories describing this.

  • VDE-2021-020PHOENIX CONTACT: Security Advisory for Automation Worx Software Suite2021-06-23csaf · phoenix_contact_psirtDE

    Manipulated PC Worx or Config+ projects could lead to a remote code execution when unallocated memory is freed because of incompletely initialized data (CWE-824). The attacker needs to get access to an original bus configuration file (*.bcp) to be able to manipulate data inside. After manipulation the attacker needs to exchange the original file by the manipulated one on the application programming workstation.

06

also known as (3)

Other names and identifiers for this entity.

07

sources

Which sources assert this record, and when.

cnnvdenisa_euvdnvdphoenix_contact_psirtNVDCVE.orgMITRE
published 2021-06-25modified 2026-06-17
08

references (7)

External citations — patches, advisories, analysis.

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