# CVE-2016-8366: Hardcoded credentials in Phoenix Contact ILC PLCs

> Attackers can bypass HMI page protection on Phoenix Contact ILC PLCs if the password macro is configured to store credentials in clear text.

- **Severity:** High 7.3 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 5 Apr 2018
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-mfgp-7r52-jcjh

## What is CVE-2016-8366?

CVE-2016-8366 is a high-severity vulnerability in Phoenix Contact ILC PLCs, published on 5 Apr 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Webvisit in Phoenix Contact ILC PLCs offers a password macro to protect HMI pages on the PLC against casual or coincidental opening of HMI pages by the user. The password macro can be configured in a way that the password is stored and transferred in clear text.

Weakness: CWE-255, CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-8366?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Phoenixcontact Ilc Plcs Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-8366?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-8366 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-8366 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-8366 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- Phoenix Contact WebVisit 6.40.00 - Password Disclosure (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Phoenix Contact ILC PLCs

- [CVE-2016-8371](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8371/): Auth bypass in Phoenix Contact ILC PLCs (high 7.3)
- [CVE-2016-8380](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8380/): Missing authorization in Phoenix Contact ILC PLCs (high 7.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-8366 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-8366 is a high-severity vulnerability in Phoenix Contact ILC PLCs, published on 5 Apr 2018. 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-2016-8366 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Phoenix Contact ILC PLCs. 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-2016-8366/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8366/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-8366
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-8366
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-8366

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8366/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.