CVE-2014-5414

Beckhoff Embedded PC Images and TwinCAT Components Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts

Published Oct 5, 2016 CVSS 3.1 · 9.1 Critical EPSS 4.8% KEV · Not listed
Description
Beckhoff Embedded PC images before 2014-10-22 and Automation Device Specification (ADS) TwinCAT components do not restrict the number of authentication attempts, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via a brute-force attack.

Remediation

Vendor Solution

Beckhoff recommends in their IPC Security Manual ( https://download.beckhoff.com/download/Document/ipc/industrial-pc/ipc_security_en.pdf ) to use network and software firewalls to block all network ports except the ones that are needed. Beckhoff also recommends that default passwords be changed during commissioning before connecting systems to the network. In their advisories (Advisory 2014-001: Potential misuse of several administrative services, https://download.beckhoff.com/download/document/product-security/Advisories/advisory-2014-001.pdf . Advisory 2014-002: ADS communication port allows password bruteforce, https://download.beckhoff.com/download/document/product-security/Advisories/advisory-2014-002.pdf . Advisory2014-003: Recommendation to change default passwords, https://download.beckhoff.com/download/document/product-security/Advisories/advisory-2014-003.pdf  which were published November 17, 2014) for these issues, Beckhoff also recommends the following mitigation solutions: * Update images to build October 22, 2014, or newer, which solve these problems by disabling the services by default. * Disable the Windows CE Remote Configuration Tool by deleting the subtree “/remoteadmin.” The configuration of the web server paths can be found in the Windows registry at the path “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\COMM\HTTPD\VROOTS\.” * Disable startup of CE Remote Display service (cerdisp.exe) with deleting the registry key containing the “CeRDisp.exe” [-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\init\Launch90]. * Disable telnet by setting the registry key [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Services\TELNETD\Flags] to dword: 4 * Restrict ADS communication to trusted networks only.

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2014-5302 Beckhoff Embedded PC images before 2014-10-22 and Automation Device Specification (ADS) TwinCAT components do not restrict the number of authentication attempts, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via a brute-force attack.
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
icscert
Published
Updated
Nov 4, 2025, 11:09 PM
Reserved
Aug 22, 2014, 12:00 AM
Status
Modified
Published
Oct 5, 2016, 10:59 AM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 12:11 AM