Phoenix Contact Automation Worx <= 1.87: stack-based overflow
Priority MEDIUM 50CWE-121Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-121 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
PLCopen XML file parsing in Phoenix Contact PC Worx and PC Worx Express version 1.87 and earlier can lead to a stack-based overflow. Manipulated PC Worx projects could lead to a remote code execution due to insufficient input data validation.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.14668 96th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Contact | Automation Worx | up to 1.87 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| Phoenix Contact | Automation Worx Express | up to 1.87 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Automation Worx VendorPhoenix Contact Affected up to 1.87 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- Automation Worx Express VendorPhoenix Contact Affected up to 1.87 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 2
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:phoenixcontact:pc_worx:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 1.87 | Vulnerable | Phoenixcontact |
| cpe:2.3:a:phoenixcontact:pc_worx_express:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 1.87 | Vulnerable | Phoenixcontact |
- cpe:2.3:a:phoenixcontact:pc_worx:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 1.87 Vulnerable ·Phoenixcontact
- cpe:2.3:a:phoenixcontact:pc_worx_express:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 1.87 Vulnerable ·Phoenixcontact
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-12497
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-729h-mx93-mqwv
References
More Phoenix Contact vulnerabilities
- TI-2014-07463 Phoenix Contact Software ProConOs and MultiProg Missing Authentication for Critical Function CVSS 2.0CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2024-17093 PHOENIX CONTACT: Remote code execution in CHARX Series CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2022-13692 Insufficient Verification of Data Vulnerability in PHOENIX CONTACT classic line industrial controllers CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-21959 Remote code execution via uploading a malicious IODD file CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-21940 Authentication Bypass in _account_log CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2023-03334 PHOENIX CONTACT: OS Command Injection in WP 6xxx Web panels CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
Sources
- CVE-2020-12497 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-12497 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-729h-mx93-mqwv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences