# CVE-2020-16234: FATEK Automation PLC WinProladder

> A stack-based buffer overflow in FATEK WinProladder allows remote code execution when a user opens a malicious file.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 30 Sep 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-pwwx-2gvr-j6qv

## What is CVE-2020-16234?

CVE-2020-16234 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in FATEK Automation PLC WinProladder, published on 30 Sep 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

In PLC WinProladder Version 3.28 and prior, a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability can be exploited when a valid user opens a specially crafted file, which may allow an attacker to remotely execute arbitrary code.

Weakness: CWE-121 (Stack-based Buffer Overflow)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-16234?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Fatek Winproladder.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-16234?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-16234 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-16234 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-16234 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in FATEK Automation PLC WinProladder

- [CVE-2021-32988](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32988/): Memory corruption in FATEK Automation WinProladder (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-32990](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32990/): Memory corruption in FATEK Automation WinProladder (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-32992](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32992/): Memory corruption in FATEK Automation WinProladder (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-43554](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-43554/): FATEK Automation WinProladder (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2021-43556](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-43556/): FATEK Automation WinProladder (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-16234 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-16234 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in FATEK Automation PLC WinProladder, published on 30 Sep 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-16234 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: FATEK Automation PLC WinProladder. 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-2020-16234/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-16234/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-16234
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-16234
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-16234

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-16234/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.