CVE-2021-22681 Rockwell Multiple Products: login or permission bypass
In plain words: A door that should be locked is not: part of the system can be reached without a valid login or permission. The attacker gets in as a user or administrator without knowing a password.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Mar 26, 2026
What to do
- Install Rockwell's security update for Multiple Products. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
- Patch anything in this catalog first, ahead of normal patch cycles.
- Put admin and file-transfer apps behind a VPN or single sign-on instead of the open internet.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: Mass data theft and ransomware: a single flaw in a file-transfer or email server has exposed thousands of organisations at once.
The details
- Official name
- Rockwell Multiple Products Insufficient Protected Credentials Vulnerability
- Product
- Rockwell Multiple Products
- CISA description
- 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.
- Type of flaw
- Login or permission bypass (CWE-522)
- Confirmed exploited
- Mar 5, 2026
- US federal patch deadline
- Mar 26, 2026
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Answering about CVE-2021-22681 ·
Questions about CVE-2021-22681
Is CVE-2021-22681 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2021-22681 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Mar 5, 2026, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.
How do I fix CVE-2021-22681?
Install Rockwell's security update for Multiple Products. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
Am I affected by CVE-2021-22681?
Only if you use Rockwell Multiple Products. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.