What’s Vulnerable › Vulnerabilities

CVE-2021-32984: Automation Direct CLICK PLC CPU Modules Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel

• Severity: critical (CVSS 9.8 v3.1)
• Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
• EPSS: 1.1% 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-288

Description

All programming connections receive the same unlocked privileges, which can result in a privilege escalation. During the time Automation Direct CLICK PLC CPU Modules: C0-1x CPUs with firmware prior to v3.00 is unlocked by an authorized user, an attacker can connect to the PLC and read the project without authorization.

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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