# CVE-2021-22797: Path traversal in EcoStruxure Control Expert

> Path traversal allows attackers to deploy malicious scripts via project files, leading to code execution on engineering workstations.

- **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:** 28 Mar 2022
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-qqgr-6jmg-cwgv

## What is CVE-2021-22797?

CVE-2021-22797 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Control Expert, published on 28 Mar 2022. 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

A CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal) vulnerability exists that could cause malicious script to be deployed in an unauthorized location and may result in code execution on the engineering workstation when a malicious project file is loaded in the engineering software. Affected Product: EcoStruxure Control Expert (V15.0 SP1 and prior, including former Unity Pro), EcoStruxure Process Expert (2020 and prior, including former HDCS), SCADAPack RemoteConnect for x70 (All versions)

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-22797?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Schneider-Electric Ecostruxure Control Expert, Schneider-Electric Ecostruxure Process Expert, Schneider-Electric Remoteconnect.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-22797?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-22797 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-22797 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-22797 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Control Expert

- [CVE-2022-37300](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-37300/): Auth bypass in EcoStruxure Control Expert (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-28212](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-28212/): Auth bypass in PLC Simulator on EcoStruxureª Control Expert (now Unity Pro) (all versions) (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-7475](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7475/): Code injection in EcoStruxure Control Expert (all versions prior to 14.1 Hot Fix), Unity Pro (all versions), Modicon M340 (all versions prior to V3.20), Modicon M580 (all versions prior to V3.10) (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-27976](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-27976/): Other in EcoStruxure Control Expert (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-28213](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-28213/): Code injection in PLC Simulator on EcoStruxureª Control Expert (now Unity Pro) (all versions) (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-22797 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-22797 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Control Expert, published on 28 Mar 2022. 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-2021-22797 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Control Expert. 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-2021-22797/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22797/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-22797
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22797
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-22797

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22797/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.