# CVE-2018-5459: Auth bypass in WAGO PFC200 Series

> Attackers can execute unauthenticated remote commands and manipulate PLC applications via network access to the CoDeSys Runtime port.

- **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:** 13 Feb 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-qff4-8m6q-cpvp

## What is CVE-2018-5459?

CVE-2018-5459 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in WAGO PFC200 Series, published on 13 Feb 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An Improper Authentication issue was discovered in WAGO PFC200 Series 3S CoDeSys Runtime versions 2.3.X and 2.4.X. An attacker can execute different unauthenticated remote operations because of the CoDeSys Runtime application, which is available via network by default on Port 2455. An attacker could execute some unauthenticated commands such as reading, writing, or deleting arbitrary files, or manipulate the PLC application during runtime by sending specially-crafted TCP packets to Port 2455.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-5459?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Wago Pfc200 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-5459?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-5459 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-5459 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-5459 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in WAGO PFC200 Series

- [CVE-2019-5160](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5160/): Server-side request forgery in WAGO PFC200 Firmware (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2019-5161](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5161/): Code injection in WAGO PFC200 Firmware (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2019-5184](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5184/): Use after free in Wago (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2019-5169](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5169/): Command injection in WAGO PFC200 (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2019-5170](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5170/): Command injection in WAGO PFC200 (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-5459 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-5459 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in WAGO PFC200 Series, published on 13 Feb 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-2018-5459 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: WAGO PFC200 Series. 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-2018-5459/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-5459/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-5459
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-5459
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-5459

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-5459/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.