Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
ISaGRAF Runtime 4.x and 5.x can receive Workbench communications over an unencrypted TCP/IP protocol. If an attacker can reach that channel and user interaction occurs, sensitive file operations may be exposed, including reading, uploading, or deleting files. This matters most in operational technology environments using Rockwell ISaGRAF-based control systems or OEM products that embed it.
Executive priority
Prioritize as high for OT sites using ISaGRAF-based control systems. The business risk is unauthorized manipulation or loss of files and applications supporting industrial operations. Urgency increases if engineering access crosses trust boundaries, remote support is enabled, or affected OEM systems are deployed in production.
Technical view
CVE-2020-25178 is a CWE-319 cleartext transmission issue in Rockwell Automation ISaGRAF Runtime 4.x and 5.x. The Workbench-to-Runtime protocol supports file system operations and application upload over TCP/IP without encryption. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.5 with network attack vector, high attack complexity, no privileges, user interaction required, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely where ISaGRAF Runtime 4.x or 5.x is deployed and reachable from engineering workstations, plant networks, remote access paths, or OEM devices referencing Rockwell ISaGRAF. The bundle names Schneider Electric and Xylem advisories, suggesting downstream product relevance, but exact affected OEM models must be confirmed from those advisories.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or evidence of active exploitation. The vulnerability is remotely reachable over TCP/IP and unauthenticated, but the CVSS vector indicates high attack complexity and required user interaction. Treat it as serious OT exposure, not as confirmed internet-scale exploitation.
Researcher notes
The public bundle identifies the issue class and impact but does not include protocol details, exploit procedures, or a named patch. Avoid assuming all ISaGRAF-derived products are affected. Validate product lineage, runtime version, network reachability, and vendor advisory applicability before assigning exposure.
Mitigation direction
- Check Rockwell advisory 1131699 for vendor-approved fixes or compensating controls.
- Review Schneider Electric and Xylem advisories for affected downstream products.
- Inventory ISaGRAF Runtime 4.x and 5.x deployments and embedded OEM systems.
- Restrict Workbench-to-Runtime TCP/IP access to trusted engineering hosts only.
- Prioritize remediation for systems reachable from remote access or shared plant networks.
Validation and detection
- Confirm installed ISaGRAF Runtime major versions on engineering and runtime assets.
- Map network paths that can reach ISaGRAF Runtime TCP/IP services.
- Check whether OEM products reference Rockwell ISaGRAF in vendor advisories.
- Review change logs for unauthorized file uploads, reads, deletes, or application changes.
- Verify remediation status against Rockwell and affected OEM guidance.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-319: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2020-25178 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.65.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.5HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ics/advisories/icsa-20-280-01CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://rockwellautomation.custhelp.com/app/answers/answer_view/a_id/1131699CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://download.schneider-electric.com/files?p_Doc_Ref=SEVD-2021-159-04CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://www.xylem.com/siteassets/about-xylem/cybersecurity/advisories/xylem-multismart-rockwell-isagraf.pdfCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information
Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.