Festo Compact Vision System, Control Block, Controller, and Operator Unit products

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

CVSS v3 9.8
ATTENTION: Exploitable remotely/Low attack complexity
Vendor: Festo
Equipment: Compact Vision System, Control Block, Controller, and Operator Unit products
Vulnerabilities: Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere, Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure Default

2. RISK EVALUATION

Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could result in an attacker accessing devices without authentication or modifying configuration files.

3. TECHNICAL DETAILS

3.1 AFFECTED PRODUCTS

Festo reports that the following products are affected:

Festo Software Compact Vision System SBO-Q-: All Versions
Festo Software Control block CPX-CEC-C1 Codesys V2: All Versions
Festo Software Control block CPX-CEC-C1-V3 Codesys V3: All Versions
Festo Software Control block CPX-CEC Codesys V2: All Versions
Festo Software Control block CPX-CEC-M1 Codesys V2: All Versions
Festo Software Control block CPX-CEC-M1-V3 Codesys V3: All Versions
Festo Software Control block CPX-CEC-S1-V3 Codesys V3: All Versions
Festo Software Control block CPX-CMXX: All Versions
Festo Software Controller CECC-D: All Versions
Festo Software Controller CECC-D-BA: All Versions
Festo Software Controller CECC-D-CS: All Versions
Festo Software Controller CECC-LK: All Versions
Festo Software Controller CECC-S: All Versions
Festo Software Controller CECC-X-M1: All Versions
Festo Software Controller CECC-X-M1-MV: All Versions
Festo Software Controller CECC-X-M1-S1: All Versions
Festo Software Controller CECX-X-C1: All Versions
Festo Software Controller CECX-X-M1: All Versions
Festo Software Controller CPX-E-CEC-C1: All Versions
Festo Software Controller CPX-E-CEC-C1-EP: All Versions
Festo Software Controller CPX-E-CEC-C1-PN: All Versions
Festo Software Controller CPX-E-CEC-M1: All Versions
Festo Software Controller CPX-E-CEC-M1-EP: All Versions
Festo Software Controller CPX-E-CEC-M1-PN: All Versions
Festo Software Controller FED-CEC: All Versions
Festo Software Operator unit CDPX-X-A-S-10: All Versions
Festo Software Operator unit CDPX-X-A-W-13: All Versions
Festo Software Operator unit CDPX-X-A-W-4: All Versions
Festo Software Operator unit CDPX-X-A-W-7: All Versions
Festo Software Operator unit CDPX-X-E1-W-10: All Versions
Festo Software Operator unit CDPX-X-E1-W-15: All Versions
Festo Software Operator unit CDPX-X-E1-W-7: All Versions

3.2 VULNERABILITY OVERVIEW

3.2.1 EXPOSURE OF RESOURCE TO WRONG SPHERE CWE-668

A remote, authenticated attacker could utilize the control program of the CODESYS Control runtime system to use the vulnerability in order to read and modify the configuration file(s) of the affected products.

CVE-2022-22515 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.1 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N).

3.2.2 INITIALIZATION OF A RESOURCE WITH AN INSECURE DEFAULT CWE-1188

In CODESYS V2 PLCWinNT and Runtime Toolkit 32 in versions prior to V2.4.7.57 password protection is not enabled by default and there is no information or prompt to enable password protection at login in case no password is set at the controller.

CVE-2022-31806 has been assigned to this vulnerability. A CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 has been calculated; the CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

3.3 BACKGROUND

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS: Critical Manufacturing
COUNTRIES/AREAS DEPLOYED: Worldwide
COMPANY HEADQUARTERS LOCATION: Germany

3.4 RESEARCHER

CERT@VDE coordinated and supported publication with Festo. Rob Hulsebos and Daniel dos Santos of Forescout reported this vulnerability to Festo.

4. MITIGATIONS

Festo has identified the following specific workarounds and mitigations users can apply to reduce risk:

For CVE-2022-22515: Using the online user management prevents an attacker from downloading and executing malicious code, but also suppresses start, stop, debug, or other actions on a known working application that could potentially disrupt a machine or system.
For CVE-2022-31806: Enable password protection at login in case no password is set at the controller. Please note that the password configuration file is not covered via default FFT backup & Restore mechanism, you must select the related file manually.

For more information see the associated Festo SE & Co. KG security advisory FSA-202208 FSA-202208: Festo: Multiple Festo products contain an unsafe default Codesys configuration – HTML, FSA-202208: Festo: Multiple Festo products contain an unsafe default Codesys configuration – CSAF.

CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the risk of exploitation of these vulnerabilities, such as:

Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and/or systems, ensuring they are not accessible from the internet.
Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls and isolating them from business networks.
When remote access is required, use more secure methods, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Recognize VPNs may have vulnerabilities, should be updated to the most recent version available, and are only as secure as the connected devices.

CISA reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures.

CISA also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS webpage on cisa.gov. Several CISA products detailing cyber defense best practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies.

CISA encourages organizations to implement recommended cybersecurity strategies for proactive defense of ICS assets.

Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available on the ICS webpage at cisa.gov in the technical information paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B–Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies.

Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.

CISA also recommends users take the following measures to protect themselves from social engineering attacks:

Do not click web links or open attachments in unsolicited email messages.
Refer to Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams for more information on avoiding email scams.
Refer to Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information on social engineering attacks.

No known public exploitation specifically targeting these vulnerabilities has been reported to CISA at this time.

5. UPDATE HISTORY

November 25, 2025: Initial Republication of Festo SE & Co. KG FSA-202208