CVE-2020-7560: n/a EcoStruxure™ Control Expert (all versions) and Unity Pro (former name of EcoStruxure™ Control Expert) (all versions) — Write-what-where Condition

SEVD-2020-343-01 · CSAF 2.0 · revision 2.0.0 · finalSchneider Electric CPCERTEcoStruxure™ Control Expert, EcoStruxure™ Process Expert and RemoteConnect™

4 known affected

The vendor explicitly identifies these products as affected by this CVE.

Schneider Electric EcoStruxure™ Control Expert prior to v15.0 SP1
Schneider Electric Unity Pro (former name of EcoStruxure™ Control Expert) all versions
Schneider Electric EcoStruxure™ Process Expert all versions
Schneider Electric RemoteConnect™ all versions

Summary: CWE-123 - Write-what-where Condition vulnerability exists that could cause a crash of the software or unexpected code execution when opening a malicious file in the engineering software.
Remediation: EcoStruxure Control Expert v15.0 SP1 product includes a fix for this vulnerability and is available for download here: https://www.se.com/ww/en/download/document/EcoStruxureControlExpert_15SP1 Contact Schneider Electric’s Customer Care Center if you need assistance removing a patch. If customers choose not to apply the remediation provided above, they should immediately apply the following mitigations to reduce the risk of exploit. If customers choose not to apply the remediation provided above, they should immediately apply the following mitigations to reduce the risk of exploit: • Store the project files in a secure storage and restrict the access to only trusted users • When exchanging files over the network, use secure communication protocols • Encrypt project files when stored • Only open project files received from trusted source Important Note: • The fix is provided through the additional feature “file encryption”, for further information on the feature and how to set it up please refers to the chapter “file encryption” of the help file available in the EcoStruxure Control Expert v15.0 SP1. • This feature is proposed by default when creating a new project. • This feature is also available, after selecting “project” in structural view, in the “Edit/ Properties/ Project & Controller Protection” menu. • For new projects: o Customers are recommended to apply this feature to all new projects. • For existing projects: o Customers are recommended to apply this feature to the existing projects coming from trusted source. For .sta project files, as a reminder, project modification can be done in connected mode to prevent desynchronization and keep the controller in RUN state. • It is possible to set a security level specific to the Derived Function Blocks (DFB) in addition to the file encryption feature. Please refer to the chapter "How to protect a DFB type" in the EcoStruxure Control Expert help file for further information. • Customers are recommended to share project files only when configured with the encryption feature described above. We strongly recommend the use of back-ups and evaluating the impact of these patches in a Test and Development environment or on an offline infrastructure. Contact Schneider Electric's Customer Care Center if you need assistance removing a patch.

Recommended actionWithin 7 days

High technical severity; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance.

Patch available

What, why and how

A CWE-123: Write-what-where Condition vulnerability exists in EcoStruxure™ Control Expert (all versions) and Unity Pro (former name of EcoStruxure™ Control Expert) (all versions), that could cause a crash of the software or unexpected code execution when opening a malicious file in EcoStruxure™ Control Expert software.

What

Why

Any condition where the attacker has the ability to write an arbitrary value to an arbitrary location, often as the result of a buffer overflow.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation without authentication after a user interaction. If successful, the issue may disrupt the affected service.

What

Why

Any condition where the attacker has the ability to write an arbitrary value to an arbitrary location, often as the result of a buffer overflow.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation without authentication after a user interaction. If successful, the issue may disrupt the affected service.

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation

Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.

No confirmed evidence

No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.

Public PoC / exploit material

Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.

None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path: local access → Write-what-where Condition → disrupt the affected service
Attack surface: Local
Privileges required: None: unauthenticated exploitation is possible
User interaction: Required interaction required
Attack complexity: Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary: Changed: exploitation can affect a different security authority
Weakness ? CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.: CWE-123 ↗
CWE-123: Write-what-where Condition. Any condition where the attacker has the ability to write an arbitrary value to an arbitrary location, often as the result of a buffer overflow.
CVSS vector ? CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.
AVLocalAttack vector: The attacker needs local access to the vulnerable system.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRNonePrivileges required: The attacker does not need an account or existing privileges.UIRequiredUser interaction: Another user must perform an action for exploitation to succeed.SChangedScope: The attack can affect a component governed by a different security authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land: The issue can support a local privilege or sandbox boundary transition; normal system utilities may then be available in the gained context.

UnauthenticatedDenial of serviceCWE-123

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-28685Official EUVD mapping

0 linked advisory records.

Official EUVD record ↗

Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20201216Security Bulletin 16 Dec 2020

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 16 Dec 2020, published on 16 December 2020. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗

CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2020-AVI-801Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits Schneider

De multiples vulnérabilités ont été découvertes dans les produits Schneider. Elles permettent à un attaquant de provoquer une exécution de code arbitraire, un déni de service à distance et une atteinte à la confidentialité des données.

Official advisory ↗

JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2020-014323EcoStruxure Control Expert および Unity Pro における任意の場所に任意の値を書き込み可能な状態に関する脆弱性

EcoStruxure Control Expert および Unity Pro (旧 EcoStruxure Control Expert) には、任意の場所に任意の値を書き込み可能な状態に関する脆弱性が存在します。

Official advisory ↗

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status ? Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.: Patch available
Affected: Schneider Electric EcoStruxure™ Control Expert prior to v15.0 SP1
Schneider Electric Unity Pro (former name of EcoStruxure™ Control Expert) all versions
Schneider Electric EcoStruxure™ Process Expert all versions
Schneider Electric RemoteConnect™ all versions
Fixed: Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Control Expert v15.0 SP1
Action: EcoStruxure Control Expert v15.0 SP1 product includes a fix for this vulnerability and is available for download here: https://www.se.com/ww/en/download/document/EcoStruxureControlExpert_15SP1 Contact Schneider Electric’s Customer Care Center if you need assistance removing a patch. If customers choose not to apply the remediation provided above, they should immediately apply the following mitigations to reduce the risk of exploit. If customers choose not to apply the remediation provided above, they should immediately apply the following mitigations to reduce the risk of exploit: • Store the project files in a secure storage and restrict the access to only trusted users • When exchanging files over the network, use secure communication protocols • Encrypt project files when stored • Only open project files received from trusted source Important Note: • The fix is provided through the additional feature “file encryption”, for further information on the feature and how to set it up please refers to the chapter “file encryption” of the help file available in the EcoStruxure Control Expert v15.0 SP1. • This feature is proposed by default when creating a new project. • This feature is also available, after selecting “project” in structural view, in the “Edit/ Properties/ Project & Controller Protection” menu. • For new projects: o Customers are recommended to apply this feature to all new projects. • For existing projects: o Customers are recommended to apply this feature to the existing projects coming from trusted source. For .sta project files, as a reminder, project modification can be done in connected mode to prevent desynchronization and keep the controller in RUN state. • It is possible to set a security level specific to the Derived Function Blocks (DFB) in addition to the file encryption feature. Please refer to the chapter "How to protect a DFB type" in the EcoStruxure Control Expert help file for further information. • Customers are recommended to share project files only when configured with the encryption feature described above. We strongly recommend the use of back-ups and evaluating the impact of these patches in a Test and Development environment or on an offline infrastructure. Contact Schneider Electric's Customer Care Center if you need assistance removing a patch.
Workaround: No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.

Evidence and provenance

Published 11 Dec 2020 · Last source change 4 Aug 2024, 09:33 UTC · CWE-123 · Write-what-where Condition

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.1

CVSS sourceNIST NVD

EPSS source

The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.

FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14

European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-28685

Product sourceVendor CSAF · Schneider Electric CPCERT

Remediation sourceVendor CSAF · Schneider Electric CPCERT

CWE sourceCNA

NVD statusNVD modified after enrichment

Missing structured fields: affected product. Missing data is not evidence of low risk; review the primary advisory.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗

13 Jul 2021, 00:00 UTC
Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
Before
EcoStruxure™ Control Expert (all versions) and Unity Pro (former name of EcoStruxure™ Control Expert) (all versions) · Fixed: No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
After
EcoStruxure™ Control Expert (all versions) and Unity Pro (former name of EcoStruxure™ Control Expert) (all versions) · Fixed: EcoStruxure Control Expert v15.0 SP1 product includes a fix for this vulnerability and is available for download here: https://www.se.com/ww/en/download/document/EcoStruxureControlExpert_15SP1 Contact Schneider Electric’s Customer Care Center if you need assistance removing a patch. If customers choose not to apply the remediation provided above, they should immediately apply the following mitigations to reduce the risk of exploit. If customers choose not to apply the remediation provided above, they should immediately apply the following mitigations to reduce the risk of exploit: • Store the project files in a secure storage and restrict the access to only trusted users • When exchanging files over the network, use secure communication protocols • Encrypt project files when stored • Only open project files received from trusted source Important Note: • The fix is provided through the additional feature “file encryption”, for further information on the feature and how to set it up please refers to the chapter “file encryption” of the help file available in the EcoStruxure Control Expert v15.0 SP1. • This feature is proposed by default when creating a new project. • This feature is also available, after selecting “project” in structural view, in the “Edit/ Properties/ Project & Controller Protection” menu. • For new projects: o Customers are recommended to apply this feature to all new projects. • For existing projects: o Customers are recommended to apply this feature to the existing projects coming from trusted source. For .sta project files, as a reminder, project modification can be done in connected mode to prevent desynchronization and keep the controller in RUN state. • It is possible to set a security level specific to the Derived Function Blocks (DFB) in addition to the file encryption feature. Please refer to the chapter "How to protect a DFB type" in the EcoStruxure Control Expert help file for further information. • Customers are recommended to share project files only when configured with the encryption feature described above. We strongly recommend the use of back-ups and evaluating the impact of these patches in a Test and Development environment or on an offline infrastructure. Contact Schneider Electric's Customer Care Center if you need assistance removing a patch.
Schneider Electric CPCERT ↗
13 Jul 2021, 00:00 UTC
Remediation statusRemediation status changed from Awaiting fix to Patch available.
Before
Awaiting fix
After
Patch available
Schneider Electric CPCERT ↗

2020-12-11CVE published

2021-07-13Fixed release recorded from official guidance

ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2020-28685↗Schneider Electric CPCERT security advisory↗CVE authority or vendor reference↗Official CVE record (CNA and ADP data)↗NVD record↗

Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report

CVE: Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS: Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS: Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE: Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA: CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD: National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT: A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC: Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF: Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL: Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.

n/a EcoStruxure™ Control Expert (all versions) and Unity Pro (former name of EcoStruxure™ Control Expert) (all versions) — Write-what-where Condition

Published severity in operational context

Evidence used

Compensating controls

Verification

Authoritative vendor CSAF and VEX advisories

National CERT insights
?
CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

EUVD-2020-28685

What, why and how

Exploit reality and attack path

Official authority intelligence

Patch and workaround

Evidence and provenance

What changed after publication