CVE-2020-12510

Beckhoff: Privilege Escalation through TwinCat System

Published Nov 19, 2020 CVSS 3.1 · 7.3 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
The default installation path of the TwinCAT XAR 3.1 software in all versions is underneath C:\TwinCAT. If the directory does not exist it and further subdirectories are created with permissions which allow every local user to modify the content. The default installation registers TcSysUI.exe for automatic execution upon log in of a user. If a less privileged user has a local account he or she can replace TcSysUI.exe. It will be executed automatically by another user during login. This is also true for users with administrative access. Consequently, a less privileged user can trick a higher privileged user into executing code he or she modified this way. By default Beckhoff’s IPCs are shipped with TwinCAT software installed this way and with just a single local user configured. Thus the vulnerability exists if further less privileged users have been added.

Remediation

Vendor Solution

Please consider to choose “C:\Program Files\TwinCAT” during installation of TwinCAT 3.1. If you have installed it already then please uninstall and re-install it with the changed path. Please use the custom installation for this. That will automatically protect the binaries such that they can only be modified by an administrator. Please mind that already installed projects underneath C:\TwinCAT need to be moved. It is recommended to perform a backup of the complete device before such action. For security reasons, please remove the former content of C:\TwinCAT at the end of this sequence. This will also prevent confusion.

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2020-4812 The default installation path of the TwinCAT XAR 3.1 software in all versions is underneath C:\TwinCAT. If the directory does not exist it and further subdirectories are created with permissions which allow every local user to modify the content. The default installation registers TcSysUI.exe for automatic execution upon log in of a user. If a less privileged user has a local account he or she can replace TcSysUI.exe. It will be executed automatically by another user during login. This is also true for users with administrative access. Consequently, a less privileged user can trick a higher privileged user into executing code he or she modified this way. By default Beckhoff’s IPCs are shipped with TwinCAT software installed this way and with just a single local user configured. Thus the vulnerability exists if further less privileged users have been added.
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Title Beckhoff: Privilege Escalation through TwinCat System Beckhoff: Privilege Escalation through TwinCat System
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
CERTVDE
Published
Updated
Sep 16, 2024, 7:35 PM
Reserved
Apr 30, 2020, 12:00 AM
Status
Modified
Published
Nov 19, 2020, 6:15 PM
Modified
Jun 17, 2026, 2:51 AM