How severe is CVE-2012-6437?

CVE-2012-6437 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2012-6437 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 10% (95th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2012-6437?

CVE-2012-6437 primarily affects Rockwellautomation Controllogix Controllers. In total, 17 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2012-6437?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2012-6437 published?

CVE-2012-6437 was published on 2013-01-24 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2012-6437

CVE-2012-6437 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Rockwellautomation Controllogix Controllers with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-287.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
CVSS v2: 10.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 10% (95th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-287
Affected product: Rockwellautomation Controllogix Controllers
Published: 2013-01-24
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The device does not properly authenticate users and the potential exists for a remote user to upload a new firmware image to the Ethernet card, whether it is a corrupt or legitimate firmware image. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could cause loss of availability, integrity, and confidentiality and a disruption in communications with other connected devices. Rockwell Automation EtherNet/IP products; 1756-ENBT, 1756-EWEB, 1768-ENBT, and 1768-EWEB communication modules; CompactLogix L32E and L35E controllers; 1788-ENBT FLEXLogix adapter; 1794-AENTR FLEX I/O EtherNet/IP adapter; ControlLogix 18 and earlier; CompactLogix 18 and earlier; GuardLogix 18 and earlier; SoftLogix 18 and earlier; CompactLogix controllers 19 and earlier; SoftLogix controllers 19 and earlier; ControlLogix controllers 20 and earlier; GuardLogix controllers 20 and earlier; and MicroLogix 1100 and 1400

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2012-6437?: The device does not properly authenticate users and the potential exists for a remote user to upload a new firmware image to the Ethernet card, whether it is a corrupt or legitimate firmware image. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could cause loss of availability, integrity, and confidentiality and a disruption in communications with other connected devices. Rockwell Automation EtherNet/IP products; 1756-ENBT, 1756-EWEB, 1768-ENBT, and 1768-EWEB communication modules; CompactLogix L32E and L35E controllers; 1788-ENBT FLEXLogix adapter; 1794-AENTR FLEX I/O EtherNet/IP adapter; ControlLogix 18 and earlier; CompactLogix 18 and earlier; GuardLogix 18 and earlier; SoftLogix 18 and earlier; CompactLogix controllers 19 and earlier; SoftLogix controllers 19 and earlier; ControlLogix controllers 20 and earlier; GuardLogix controllers 20 and earlier; and MicroLogix 1100 and 1400
How severe is CVE-2012-6437?: CVE-2012-6437 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2012-6437 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 10% (95th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2012-6437?: CVE-2012-6437 primarily affects Rockwellautomation Controllogix Controllers. In total, 17 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2012-6437?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2012-6437 published?: CVE-2012-6437 was published on 2013-01-24 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (17)

cpe:2.3:a:rockwellautomation:controllogix_controllers:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:rockwellautomation:guardlogix_controllers:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:rockwellautomation:micrologix:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:rockwellautomation:softlogix_controllers:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:1756-enbt:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:1756-eweb:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:1768-enbt:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:1768-eweb:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:1794-aentr_flex_i\/o_ethernet\/ip_adapter:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_controllers:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_l32e_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:compactlogix_l35e_controller:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:controllogix:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:flexlogix_1788-enbt_adapter:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:guardlogix:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:rockwellautomation:softlogix:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Rockwellautomation Controllogix Controllers

CVE-2012-6439 — High (CVSS 8.5): When an affected product receives a valid CIP message from an unauthorized or unintended source to Port 2222/TCP,…
CVE-2012-6438 — High (CVSS 7.5): The device does not properly validate the data being sent to the buffer. An attacker can send a malformed CIP packet to…
CVE-2012-6436 — High (CVSS 7.5): The device does not properly validate the data being sent to the buffer. An attacker can send a malformed CIP packet to…
CVE-2012-6435 — High (CVSS 7.5): When an affected product receives a valid CIP message from an unauthorized or unintended source to Port 2222/TCP, Port…
CVE-2012-6441 — Medium (CVSS 5.0): An information exposure of confidential information results when the device receives a specially crafted CIP packet to…
CVE-2012-6440 — Medium (CVSS 4.8): The Web server password authentication mechanism used by the products is vulnerable to a MitM and Replay attack.…

All CVEs affecting Rockwellautomation Controllogix Controllers →

Other CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-45480 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Improper authentication in Azure Active Directory allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.
CVE-2026-46389 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): UDS Identity Config builds the Keycloak configuration image (realm, plugins, theme, truststore, JARs) consumed by UDS…
CVE-2026-10611 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): An authentication bypass vulnerability exists in MISP when LDAP mixed authentication is enabled with OTP enforcement.…
CVE-2026-47280 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Improper authentication in Azure Resource Manager (ARM) allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges over a…
CVE-2026-42822 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Improper authentication in Azure Local Disconnected Operations allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges…
CVE-2026-20182 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): May 2026: This security advisory provides the details and fix information for a vulnerability that was discovered and…

Browse all CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) vulnerabilities →