Evidence used
- No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
- Exploitation requires an existing local or physical foothold with privileges.
- EPSS is 0.22% for the current model date.
BlackTreeCVE IntelligenceFull vulnerability report · 2021
CVE-2021-22780High confidence
n/a EcoStruxure Control Expert (all versions prior to V15.0 SP1, including all versions of Unity Pro), EcoStruxure Process Expert (all versions, including all versions of EcoStruxure Hybrid DCS), and SCADAPack RemoteConnect for x70, all versions — Insufficiently Protected Credentials
Unknown · EcoStruxure Control Expert (all versions prior to V15.0 SP1, including all versions of Unity Pro), EcoStruxure Process Expert (all versions, including all versions of EcoStruxure Hybrid DCS), and SCADAPack RemoteConnect for x70, all versions
7.1HighCVSS 3.1
Patch only the product branches with a verified fix
Fix availability varies by productHigh technical severity; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance. Verified remediation exists for at least one product or source, but 3 structured product or package states remain unresolved. Apply remediation only to the exact product branch confirmed by its source.
R
Open reassessment dashboard →Operational reassessment
Published severity in operational context
Published severityHigh→Operational priority:Medium, lowered one band.downgradedsince 3 Aug 2024
Compensating controls
- Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
- Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
- Monitor vendor guidance and exploitation sources for a material change.
Verification
- Confirm that the asset runs Unknown EcoStruxure Control Expert (all versions prior to V15.0 SP1, including all versions of Unity Pro), EcoStruxure Process Expert (all versions, including all versions of EcoStruxure Hybrid DCS), and SCADAPack RemoteConnect for x70, all versions and falls inside the recorded affected range.
- Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
- Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
- Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Remediation availability differs by product scope
Verified remediation exists for at least one product or source, but 3 structured product or package states remain unresolved. Apply remediation only to the exact product branch confirmed by its source.
- Schneider Electric CPCERT: 3 affected or under-investigation product states without a fixed product state in the same current advisory
Direct vendor intelligence
1 currentAuthoritative vendor CSAF and VEX advisories
Structured product status and remediation from the issuing vendor. Product-state explanations are always visible; large lists can be searched or downloaded.
SEVD-2021-194-01 · CSAF 2.0 · revision 9.0.0 · finalSchneider Electric CPCERTEcoStruxureTM Control Expert, EcoStruxureTM Process Expert, SCADAPack RemoteConnect™ x70, and Modicon Controllers M580 and M340
The vendor explicitly identifies these products as affected by this CVE.
- Schneider Electric EcoStruxure™ Control Expert versions prior to 15.0 SP1
- Schneider Electric EcoStruxure™ Process Expert versions prior to 2021
- Schneider Electric SCADAPack RemoteConnect™ for x70 versions prior to R2.7.3
- Summary
- A CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials vulnerability exists that could cause unauthorized access to a project file protected by a password when this file is shared with untrusted sources. An attacker may bypass the password protection and be able to view and modify a project file.
- Remediation
- EcoStruxure™ Control Expert V15.1*, available for download below, includes a fix for CVE-2021-22778, CVE-2021-22780, CVE-2021-22781, CVE-2021-22782, CVE-2020-12525: https://www.se.com/ww/en/download/document/EcoStruxureControlExpert_V15.1/ *Upgrading to EcoStruxure™ Control Expert V15.1 is the first step in a two stepsprocess to fully address CVE-2021-22779. To fully address this issue a firmwarerelease will follow. Important Note: •The fix is provided through the additional feature “file encryption”, forfurther information on the feature and how to set it up please refers to thechapter “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, inthe “Edit/ Properties/ Project & Controller Protection” menu. •For new projects: oCustomers are recommended to apply this feature to all newprojects. •For existing projects: oCustomers are recommended to apply this feature to the existingprojects coming from trusted source. For .sta project files, as areminder, project modification can be done in connected mode toprevent 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 filefor further information. •Customers are recommended to share project files only when configuredwith the encryption feature described above. If customers choose not to apply the remediation provided above, they should immediately apply the following mitigations to reduce the risk of exploit. These mitigations also reduce the risk of exploit for CVE-2021-22779 on all versions of EcoStruxure™ Control Expert, including V15.1: •Store the project files in a secure storage and restrict the access to onlytrusted users •When exchanging files over the network, use secure communicationprotocols •Encrypt project files when stored •Only open project files received from trusted source •Compute a hash of the project files and regularly check the consistency ofthis hash to verify the integrity before usage. •Harden the workstation running EcoStruxure™ Control Expert or Unity Pro Customers using Unity Pro should strongly consider migrating to EcoStruxure™ Control Expert. Please contact your local Schneider Electric technical support for more information.
High technical severity; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance. Verified remediation exists for at least one product or source, but 3 structured product or package states remain unresolved. Apply remediation only to the exact product branch confirmed by its source.
Fix availability varies by product01
What, why and how
Insufficiently Protected Credentials vulnerability exists in EcoStruxure Control Expert (all versions prior to V15.0 SP1, including all versions of Unity Pro), EcoStruxure Process Expert (all versions, including all versions of EcoStruxure Hybrid DCS), and SCADAPack RemoteConnect for x70, all versions, that could cause unauthorized access to a project file protected by a password when this file is shared with untrusted sources. An attacker may bypass the password protection and be able to view and modify a project file.
What
Insufficiently Protected Credentials vulnerability exists in EcoStruxure Control Expert (all versions prior to V15.0 SP1, including all versions of Unity Pro), EcoStruxure Process Expert (all versions, including all versions of EcoStruxure Hybrid DCS), and SCADAPack RemoteConnect for x70, all versions, that could cause unauthorized access to a project file protected by a password when this file is shared with untrusted sources. An attacker may bypass the password protection and be able to view and modify a project file.
Why
The product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval.
How
An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.
What
Insufficiently Protected Credentials vulnerability exists in EcoStruxure Control Expert (all versions prior to V15.0 SP1, including all versions of Unity Pro), EcoStruxure Process Expert (all versions, including all versions of EcoStruxure Hybrid DCS), and SCADAPack RemoteConnect for x70, all versions, that could cause unauthorized access to a project file protected by a password when this file is shared with untrusted sources. An attacker may bypass the password protection and be able to view and modify a project file.
Why
The product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval.
How
An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.
02
Exploit reality and attack path
CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.
Observed exploitation No confirmed evidence
?
Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.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 None recorded
?
Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.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 → Insufficiently Protected Credentials → cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor
- Attack surface
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low: a basic authenticated account is required
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
- Security boundary
- Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
- Weakness
?
CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness. - CWE-522 ↗
CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials. The product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval.
- 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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:NCommon 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.PRLowPrivileges required: The attacker needs basic user-level privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.ANoneAvailability impact: No direct loss is represented by this metric.- Post-exploitation / living off the land
- Stolen credentials, tokens and legitimate administration functions may provide continued access without deploying a large custom toolset.
03
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. - Fix availability varies by product
- Affected
- Action
- Use the product-specific evidence above. Patch only products with a verified fixed release, and keep every affected or under-investigation state without a matching fix in the remediation queue.
- Workaround
- No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.
04
Evidence and provenance
Published 14 Jul 2021 · Last source change 3 Aug 2024, 18:51 UTC · CWE-522 · Insufficiently Protected Credentials
CVE recordCVE.org · 5.1
CVSS sourceNIST NVD
EPSS source FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
?
The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2021-9915
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
View recent updates ↗What changed after publication
- Remediation statusRemediation status changed from Awaiting fix to Mitigation available.Schneider Electric CPCERT ↗
- Before
- Awaiting fix
- After
- Mitigation available
CVE published
Remediation guidance recorded
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.