# CVE-2017-13997: Auth bypass in Schneider Electric InduSoft Web Studio, InTouch Machine Edition

> Remote attackers can bypass authentication to execute arbitrary commands with high privileges on Schneider Electric HMI servers, leading to full system compromise.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 2 Oct 2017
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-mpcf-5x9h-p6p7

## What is CVE-2017-13997?

CVE-2017-13997 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Schneider Electric InduSoft Web Studio, InTouch Machine Edition, published on 2 Oct 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A Missing Authentication for Critical Function issue was discovered in Schneider Electric InduSoft Web Studio v8.0 SP2 or prior, and InTouch Machine Edition v8.0 SP2 or prior. InduSoft Web Studio provides the capability for an HMI client to trigger script execution on the server for the purposes of performing customized calculations or actions. A remote malicious entity could bypass the server authentication and trigger the execution of an arbitrary command. The command is executed under high privileges and could lead to a complete compromise of the server.

Weakness: CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-13997?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Schneider-Electric Wonderware Indusoft Web Studio, Schneider-Electric Wonderware Intouch.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-13997?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-13997 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-13997 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-13997 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Schneider Electric InduSoft Web Studio, InTouch Machine Edition

- [CVE-2017-14024](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-14024/): Memory corruption in Schneider Electric InduSoft Web Studio and InTouch Machine Edition (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-7968](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7968/): Privilege escalation in Schneider Electric Wonderware InduSoft Web Studio (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-13997 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-13997 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in Schneider Electric InduSoft Web Studio, InTouch Machine Edition, published on 2 Oct 2017. 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-2017-13997 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Schneider Electric InduSoft Web Studio, InTouch Machine Edition. 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-2017-13997/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-13997/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-13997
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-13997
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-13997

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-13997/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.