# CVE-2021-22280: DLL Hijacking Vulnerability in Automation Studio

> An authenticated local attacker can execute arbitrary code via DLL hijacking in B&R Automation Studio.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 May 2024
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-x53h-2cjp-mwcx

## What is CVE-2021-22280?

CVE-2021-22280 is a high-severity vulnerability in B&R Industrial Automation Automation Studio, published on 14 May 2024. 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

Improper DLL loading algorithms in B&R Automation Studio versions >=4.0 and <4.12 may allow an authenticated local attacker to execute code in the context of the product.

Weakness: CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element), CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-22280?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Br-Automation Automation Studio.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-22280?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-22280 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-22280 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-22280 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in B&R Industrial Automation Automation Studio

- [CVE-2024-0220](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-0220/): B&R products use insufficient communication encryption (high 8.3)
- [CVE-2021-22282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22282/): RCE in B&R Automation Studio with crafted project files (high 8.3)
- [CVE-2020-24681](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-24681/): Automation Studio and PVI Multiple incorrect permission assignments for services (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2019-19100](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-19100/): Privilege escalation via B&R Automation Studio upgrade service (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2019-19101](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-19101/): Incomplete communication encryption and validation in B&R Automation Studio upgrade service (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-22280 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-22280 is a high-severity vulnerability in B&R Industrial Automation Automation Studio, published on 14 May 2024. 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-2021-22280 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: B&R Industrial Automation Automation Studio. 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-2021-22280/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22280/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-22280
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22280
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-22280

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22280/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.