Critical severity · published Mar 3, 2021
CVE-2021-22681
Rockwell Multiple Products Insufficient Protected Credentials Vulnerability
In wildKEV
9.8
CVSS
63.6%
EPSS
Yes
On KEV
Description
Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 Logix Designer Versions 21 and later, and RSLogix 5000 Versions 16 through 20 use a key to verify Logix controllers are communicating with Rockwell Automation CompactLogix 1768, 1769, 5370, 5380, 5480: ControlLogix 5550, 5560, 5570, 5580; DriveLogix 5560, 5730, 1794-L34; Compact GuardLogix 5370, 5380; GuardLogix 5570, 5580; SoftLogix 5800. Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 Logix Designer Versions 21 and later and RSLogix 5000: Versions 16 through 20 are vulnerable because an unauthenticated attacker could bypass this verification mechanism and authenticate with Rockwell Automation CompactLogix 1768, 1769, 5370, 5380, 5480: ControlLogix 5550, 5560, 5570, 5580; DriveLogix 5560, 5730, 1794-L34; Compact GuardLogix 5370, 5380; GuardLogix 5570, 5580; SoftLogix 5800.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)63.6% · higher than 99% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildYes
CISA KEVListed Mar 5, 2026
Federal remediation dueMar 26, 2026
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
RA
Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 Logix Designer, RSLogix 5000, Logix Controllers ·
RSLogix 5000 Versions 16 through 20; Studio 5000 Logix Designer: Versions 21 and later; CompactLogix 1768, 1769, 5370, 5380, 5480; ControlLogix 5550, 5560, 5570, 5580; DriveLogix 5560, 5730, 1794-L34; Compact GuardLogix 5370, 5380; +2 more · source: vendor
R5
Rslogix 5000 · Rockwellautomation
16 through 20 · source: NVD
MP
Multiple Products · Rockwell
All versions, or not specified · source: KEV
In the news
VulnerabilityHigh
CISA Adds Five Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog
CISA has added five new vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog , based on evidence of active exploitation. CVE-2017-7921 Hikvision Multiple Products Improper Authentication Vulnerability CVE-2021-22681 Rockwell Multiple Products Insufficient Protected Credentials Vulnerability CVE-2021-30952 Apple Multiple Products Integer Overflow or Wraparound Vulnerability CVE-2023-41974 Apple iOS and iPadOS Use-After-Free Vulnerability CVE-2023-43000 Apple Multiple products Use-After-Free Vulnerability These types of vulnerabilities are frequent attack vectors for malicious cyber actors and pose significant risks to the federal enterprise. Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 22-01: Reducing the Significant Risk of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities established the KEV Catalog as a living list of known Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) that carry significant risk to the federal enterprise. BOD 22-01 requires Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies to remediate identified vulnerabilities by the due date to protect FCEB networks against active threats. See the BOD 22-01 Fact Sheet for more information. Although BOD 22-01 only applies to FCEB agencies, CISA strongly urges all organizations to reduce their exposure to cyberattacks by prioritizing timely remediation of KEV Catalog vulnerabilities as part of their vulnerability management practice. CISA will continue to add vulnerabilities to the catalog that mee...
Mar 5, 2026·CISA Advisories
VulnerabilityHigh
[CISA KEV] CVE-2021-22681: Rockwell Multiple Products - Rockwell Multiple Products Insufficient Protected Credentials Vulnerability
Multiple Rockwell products contain an insufficient protected credentials vulnerability. Studio 5000 Logix Designer software may allow a key to be discovered. This key is used to verify Logix controllers are communicating with Rockwell Automation design software. If successfully exploited, this vulnerability could allow an unauthorized application to connect with Logix controllers. To leverage this vulnerability, an unauthorized user would require network access to the controller.
MPMultiple ProductsCVE-2021-22681
Mar 5, 2026·CISA KEV