What’s Vulnerable › Vulnerabilities

CVE-2021-32978: Automation Direct CLICK PLC CPU Modules Plaintext Storage of a Password

• Severity: high (CVSS 7.5 v3.1)
• Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
• EPSS: 1.0% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
• Public exploit or detection template: none known
• Published: 2022-04-04 · updated 2026-06-17
• Weakness: CWE-256

Description

The programming protocol allows for a previously entered password and lock state to be read by an attacker. If the previously entered password was successful, the attacker can then use the password to unlock Automation Direct CLICK PLC CPU Modules: C0-1x CPUs with firmware prior to v3.00.

Affected products

• AutomationDirect C0-10Are-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-10Dd1E-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-10Dd2E-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-10Dre-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-11Are-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-11Dd1E-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-11Dd2E-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-11Dre-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-12Are-1-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-12Are-2-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-12Are-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-12Dd1E-1-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-12Dd1E-2-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-12Dd1E-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-12Dd2E-1-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-12Dd2E-2-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-12Dd2E-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-12Dre-1-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-12Dre-2-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00
• AutomationDirect C0-12Dre-D Firmware: before 3.00 — fixed in 3.00

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: AutomationDirect C0-10Are-D Firmware 3.00; AutomationDirect C0-10Dd1E-D Firmware 3.00; AutomationDirect C0-10Dd2E-D Firmware 3.00; AutomationDirect C0-10Dre-D Firmware 3.00; AutomationDirect C0-11Are-D Firmware 3.00; AutomationDirect C0-11Dd1E-D Firmware 3.00; AutomationDirect C0-11Dd2E-D Firmware 3.00; AutomationDirect C0-11Dre-D Firmware 3.00; AutomationDirect C0-12Are-1-D Firmware 3.00; AutomationDirect C0-12Are-2-D Firmware 3.00; AutomationDirect C0-12Are-D Firmware 3.00; AutomationDirect C0-12Dd1E-1-D Firmware 3.00. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

• https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ics/advisories/icsa-21-166-02
• https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ics/advisories/icsa-21-166-02

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