# CVE-2014-5414: Beckhoff Embedded PC Images and TwinCAT Components Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts

> Remote attackers can brute-force authentication on Beckhoff TwinCAT components due to missing attempt limits, leading to unauthorized access.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 5 Oct 2016
- **Updated:** 4 Nov 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jj96-ggr5-64rp

## What is CVE-2014-5414?

CVE-2014-5414 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Beckhoff Embedded PC Images, published on 5 Oct 2016. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official 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.

Weakness: CWE-254, CWE-307 (Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2014-5414?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Beckhoff Embedded Pc Images, Beckhoff Twincat.

## How do I fix CVE-2014-5414?

No fix has been published for CVE-2014-5414 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2014-5414 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-5414 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Beckhoff Embedded PC Images

- [CVE-2014-5415](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-5415/): Beckhoff Embedded PC Images and TwinCAT Components Exposed Dangerous Method or Function (critical 9.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2014-5414 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2014-5414 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Beckhoff Embedded PC Images, published on 5 Oct 2016. 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-2014-5414 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Beckhoff Embedded PC Images. 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-2014-5414/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-5414/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-5414
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-5414
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2014-5414

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-5414/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.