# CVE-2019-13553: Hardcoded credentials in Rittal Chiller SK 3232-Series

> Hard-coded credentials in the Rittal Chiller web interface allow attackers to control cooling operations and modify temperature settings.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/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:** 25 Oct 2019
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6j53-rvq8-q9pr

## What is CVE-2019-13553?

CVE-2019-13553 is a critical vulnerability in Rittal Chiller SK 3232-Series, published on 25 Oct 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Rittal Chiller SK 3232-Series web interface as built upon Carel pCOWeb firmware A1.5.3 – B1.2.4. The authentication mechanism on affected systems is configured using hard-coded credentials. These credentials could allow attackers to influence the primary operations of the affected systems, namely turning the cooling unit on and off and setting the temperature set point.

Weakness: CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-13553?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Carel Pcoweb Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-13553?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-13553 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-13553 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-13553 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Rittal Chiller SK 3232-Series

- [CVE-2019-13549](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-13549/): Missing authorization in Rittal Chiller SK 3232-Series (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-13553 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-13553 is a critical vulnerability in Rittal Chiller SK 3232-Series, published on 25 Oct 2019. 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-2019-13553 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Rittal Chiller SK 3232-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-2019-13553/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-13553/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-13553
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-13553
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-13553

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-13553/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.