CVE-2020-12500 – This CVE allows unauthenticated attackers to ga... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2020-12500?

CVE-2020-12500 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL). This CVE allows unauthenticated attackers to gain administrative control over affected Pepperl+Fuchs industrial network devices. Attackers can bypass authentication entirely and execute commands with full device privileges. Organizations using these specific RocketLinx and JetWave industrial switches are affected.

📋 TL;DR

This CVE allows unauthenticated attackers to gain administrative control over affected Pepperl+Fuchs industrial network devices. Attackers can bypass authentication entirely and execute commands with full device privileges. Organizations using these specific RocketLinx and JetWave industrial switches are affected.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Pepperl+Fuchs P+F Comtrol RocketLinx ES7510-XT
ES8509-XT
ES8510-XT
ES9528-XTv2
ES7506
ES7510
ES7528
ES8508
ES8508F
ES8510
ES8510-XTE
ES9528/ES9528-XT
Korenix Technology JetWave series

Versions: All versions

Operating Systems: Embedded firmware

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Affects both Pepperl+Fuchs and Korenix branded devices (same underlying technology). No authentication required by default.

📦 What is this software?

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Complete device takeover allowing attackers to reconfigure network settings, intercept/modify industrial traffic, disable critical infrastructure, or use devices as pivot points into OT networks.

🟠

Likely Case

Unauthorized configuration changes leading to network disruption, data interception, or installation of persistent backdoors on industrial control systems.

🟢

If Mitigated

Limited impact if devices are isolated in air-gapped networks with strict network segmentation and access controls.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH - Direct internet exposure makes devices immediately vulnerable to mass scanning and exploitation.

🏢 Internal Only: HIGH - Even internally, any network-accessible device can be exploited by attackers who gain internal access.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ⚠️ Yes

Weaponized: CONFIRMED

Unauthenticated Exploit: ⚠️ Yes

Complexity: LOW

Multiple public exploit scripts available. Exploitation requires only network access to device management interface.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Contact vendor for specific firmware updates

Vendor Advisory: https://cert.vde.com/de-de/advisories/vde-2020-040

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Contact Pepperl+Fuchs support for latest firmware. 2. Backup current configuration. 3. Apply firmware update via web interface or CLI. 4. Verify authentication is now required for administrative access.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Network Segmentation

all

Isolate affected devices in separate VLANs with strict firewall rules

Access Control Lists

all

Restrict management interface access to specific trusted IP addresses only

access-list 100 permit ip [trusted-network] [trusted-mask] any
access-list 100 deny ip any any
interface [management-interface]
ip access-group 100 in

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Remove devices from internet-facing networks immediately
Implement strict network segmentation with firewall rules blocking all unnecessary traffic to device management interfaces

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Attempt to access device web interface or API endpoints without authentication. If administrative functions are accessible, device is vulnerable.

Check Version:

Check web interface footer or use SNMP query to device system description

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify that authentication is now required for all administrative functions and that default credentials no longer work.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unauthenticated administrative access attempts
Configuration changes from unexpected IP addresses
Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful access without credentials

Network Indicators:

HTTP/HTTPS requests to device management interfaces without authentication headers
Unusual outbound connections from industrial network devices

SIEM Query:

source="industrial_switch" AND (event_type="config_change" OR url_path="/admin/") AND user="none"

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2020-12500

CVSS v3 Score: 9.8 (CRITICAL)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE: CWE-306

Published: October 15, 2020

Last Updated: November 21, 2024

🔗 References

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162903/Korenix-CSRF-Backdoor-Accounts-Command-Injection-Missing-Authentication.html Exploit,Third Party Advisory,VDB Entry
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/165875/Korenix-Technology-JetWave-CSRF-Command-Injection-Missing-Authentication.html Exploit,Third Party Advisory,VDB Entry
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2021/Jun/0 Exploit,Mailing List,Third Party Advisory
https://cert.vde.com/de-de/advisories/vde-2020-040 Third Party Advisory
https://sec-consult.com/vulnerability-lab/advisory/multiple-critical-vulnerabilities-in-korenix-technology-westermo-pepperl-fuchs/ Third Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162903/Korenix-CSRF-Backdoor-Accounts-Command-Injection-Missing-Authentication.html Exploit,Third Party Advisory,VDB Entry
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/165875/Korenix-Technology-JetWave-CSRF-Command-Injection-Missing-Authentication.html Exploit,Third Party Advisory,VDB Entry
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2021/Jun/0 Exploit,Mailing List,Third Party Advisory
https://cert.vde.com/de-de/advisories/vde-2020-040 Third Party Advisory
https://sec-consult.com/vulnerability-lab/advisory/multiple-critical-vulnerabilities-in-korenix-technology-westermo-pepperl-fuchs/ Third Party Advisory

📤 Share & Export

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🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

If you're affected by CVE-2020-12500, you might also want to check these:

📋 TL;DR

💻 Affected Systems

📦 What is this software?

Es7506 Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs

Es7510 Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs

Es7510 Xt Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs

Es7528 Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs

Es8508 Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs

Es8508f Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs

Es8509 Xt Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs

Es8510 Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs

Es8510 Xt Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs

Es8510 Xte Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs

Es9528 Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs

Es9528 Xt Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs

Es9528 Xtv2 Firmware by Pepperl Fuchs