Skip to main content

Codesys CVE-2021-21867

HIGH
Deserialization of Untrusted Data (CWE-502)
2021-08-18 talos-cna@cisco.com
7.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A08:2025 - Software or Data Integrity Failures
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Safe deserialization, type allowlists
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Execution, Initial Access

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A local attacker with access to the system could execute arbitrary code through malicious serialized objects. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 1.6% exploitation probability (EPSS)

Get an e-mail when this CVE is exploited, patched or re-scored. Free account.

Alert me

AnalysisAI

An unsafe deserialization vulnerability exists in the ObjectManager.plugin ObjectStream.ProfileByteArray functionality of CODESYS GmbH CODESYS Development System 3.5.16 and 3.5.17. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Avoid deserializing untrusted data. Use safe serialization formats (JSON). Implement integrity checks and type allowlists.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Deserialization of Untrusted Data (CWE-502), which allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through malicious serialized objects. An unsafe deserialization vulnerability exists in the ObjectManager.plugin ObjectStream.ProfileByteArray functionality of CODESYS GmbH CODESYS Development System 3.5.16 and 3.5.17. A specially crafted file can lead to arbitrary command execution. An attacker can provide a malicious file to trigger this vulnerability. Affected products include: Codesys.

Know when Codesys gets its next vulnerability

  • Watch products and get an email when something new is published
  • Check this CVE against your own stack and servers
  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

No credit card · 7-day full trial

Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 7.8 HIGH
AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionNVD

An unsafe deserialization vulnerability exists in the ObjectManager.plugin ObjectStream.ProfileByteArray functionality of CODESYS GmbH CODESYS Development System 3.5.16 and 3.5.17. A specially crafted file can lead to arbitrary command execution. An attacker can provide a malicious file to trigger this vulnerability.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
1.6%
Top 26% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
2 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC Yes
EPSS 1.6%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
Poc
System Exposure· derived
Small
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

61
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +2
CVSS: +39
PoC: +20
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Insecure deserialization occurs when an application converts serialized data (a stream of bytes representing an object's state) back into a living object without proper validation.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:codesys:codesys:3.5.16.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:codesys:codesys:3.5.17.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2020-10245 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Mar 26

CODESYS V3 web server before 3.5.15.40, as used in CODESYS Control runtime systems, has a buffer overflow. Rated critica

CVE-2019-18858 CRITICAL POC
9.8 Nov 20

CODESYS 3 web server before 3.5.15.20, as distributed with CODESYS Control runtime systems, has a Buffer Overflow. Rated

CVE-2021-34584 CRITICAL POC
9.1 Oct 26

Crafted web server requests can be utilised to read partial stack or heap memory or may trigger a denial-of- service con

CVE-2020-6081 HIGH POC
8.8 May 07

An exploitable code execution vulnerability exists in the PLC_Task functionality of 3S-Smart Software Solutions GmbH COD

CVE-2021-21869 HIGH POC
7.8 Aug 25

An unsafe deserialization vulnerability exists in the Engine.plugin ProfileInformation ProfileData functionality of CODE

CVE-2021-21868 HIGH POC
7.8 Aug 18

An unsafe deserialization vulnerability exists in the ObjectManager.plugin Project.get_MissingTypes() functionality of C

CVE-2021-21866 HIGH POC
7.8 Aug 02

A unsafe deserialization vulnerability exists in the ObjectManager.plugin ProfileInformation.ProfileData functionality o

CVE-2021-21864 HIGH POC
7.8 Aug 02

A unsafe deserialization vulnerability exists in the ComponentModel ComponentManager.StartupCultureSettings functionalit

CVE-2021-29240 HIGH POC
7.8 May 04

The Package Manager of CODESYS Development System 3 before 3.5.17.0 does not check the validity of packages before insta

CVE-2021-34593 HIGH POC
7.5 Oct 26

In CODESYS V2 Runtime Toolkit 32 Bit full and PLCWinNT prior to versions V2.4.7.56 unauthenticated crafted invalid reque

CVE-2021-34586 HIGH POC
7.5 Oct 26

In the CODESYS V2 web server prior to V1.1.9.22 crafted web server requests may cause a Null pointer dereference in the

CVE-2021-34585 HIGH POC
7.5 Oct 26

In the CODESYS V2 web server prior to V1.1.9.22 crafted web server requests can trigger a parser error. Rated high sever

This site uses cookies essential for authentication and security. No tracking or analytics cookies are used. Privacy Policy