# CVE-2011-4509: Hardcoded credentials in n/a

> Remote attackers can gain administrator access to Siemens HMI panels by exploiting a weak default password, requiring a configuration change to secure the device.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 3 Feb 2012
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xrjh-j238-j8p7

## What is CVE-2011-4509?

CVE-2011-4509 is a critical vulnerability in n/a, published on 3 Feb 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The HMI web server in Siemens WinCC flexible 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008; WinCC V11 (aka TIA portal); the TP, OP, MP, Comfort Panels, and Mobile Panels SIMATIC HMI panels; WinCC V11 Runtime Advanced; and WinCC flexible Runtime has an improperly selected default password for the administrator account, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via a brute-force approach involving many HTTP requests.

Weakness: CWE-264

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2011-4509?

It affects 5 products.


Products: Siemens Simatic Hmi Panels, Siemens Wincc, Siemens Wincc Flexible, Siemens Wincc Flexible Runtime, Siemens Wincc Runtime Advanced.

## How do I fix CVE-2011-4509?

No fix has been published for CVE-2011-4509 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2011-4509 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2011-4509 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2011-4513](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4513/): Code injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2011-4514](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4514/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2011-4508](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4508/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2011-4875](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4875/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2011-4876](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4876/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2011-4509 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2011-4509 is a critical vulnerability in n/a, published on 3 Feb 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2011-4509 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4509/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4509/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-4509
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4509
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2011-4509

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4509/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.