CVE-2023-1617: Improper Authentication Mechanism in B&R VC4 Visualization

Severity: critical (CVSS 9.8 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.7% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2023-04-14 · updated 2026-06-17
Weakness: CWE-287

Description

Improper Authentication vulnerability in B&R Industrial Automation B&R VC4 (VNC-Server modules). This vulnerability may allow an unauthenticated network-based attacker to bypass the authentication mechanism of the VC4 visualization on affected devices. The impact of this vulnerability depends on the functionality provided in the visualization. This issue affects B&R VC4: from 3.* through 3.96.7, from 4.0* through 4.06.7, from 4.1* through 4.16.3, from 4.2* through 4.26.8, from 4.3* through 4.34.6, from 4.4* through 4.45.1, from 4.5* through 4.45.3, from 4.7* through 4.72.9.

Affected products

B&R Industrial Automation B&R VC4: before 3.96.8; from 4.0.0 through 4.06.4; from 4.10.0 through 4.16.3; from 4.20.0 through 4.26.8; from 4.30.0 before 4.34.7; from 4.40.0 through 4.45.1 — fixed in 3.96.8, 4.34.7, 4.73.0

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: B&R Industrial Automation B&R VC4 3.96.8, 4.34.7, 4.73.0. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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