Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-22281 is a Zip Slip-style path traversal flaw in B&R Automation Studio project import. A user must import a malicious or crafted project locally. Successful exploitation could overwrite files outside the intended extraction path, creating high integrity risk on engineering workstations.
Executive priority
Prioritize this for OT engineering environments that exchange Automation Studio projects externally. It is not a network worm scenario, but it can affect engineering workstation integrity and trust in project files.
Technical view
The record describes CWE-23 relative path traversal in B&R Industrial Automation Automation Studio from 4.0 through 4.12. CVSS 3.1 is 6.3 with local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, required user interaction, changed scope, no confidentiality impact, high integrity impact, and no availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on engineering workstations running Automation Studio 4.0 through 4.12, especially where project files are exchanged with vendors, integrators, customers, or unmanaged sources.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show active exploitation, and CISA KEV status is false. Exploitation requires local user interaction through project import, so phishing, shared project archives, or supplier file exchange are the most plausible contexts.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE metadata and B&R advisory reference in the bundle. No exploit status, patch version, or detailed vendor mitigation text is provided here, so avoid claims beyond local, user-assisted path traversal during project import.
Mitigation direction
- Check B&R advisory for the vendor-supported remediation or fixed version.
- Avoid importing Automation Studio projects from untrusted or unverified sources.
- Use isolated engineering workstations for third-party project review where feasible.
- Treat externally supplied project archives as potentially unsafe until validated.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Automation Studio installations and confirm versions against 4.0 through 4.12.
- Identify workflows that import project files from external parties.
- Review endpoint controls for unexpected file writes during project import.
- Confirm remediation status against B&R's published advisory.
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-23: File access and web shell behavior lookup
File traversal and upload weaknesses can lead teams to review file, web shell, execution, and collection telemetry. 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 lookupFile access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-22281 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
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:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N1.84Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.3MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:N
Source materials
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.
Relative Path Traversal
Relative Path Traversal represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.