Schneider Electric PowerChute Serial Shutdown
CISA and Schneider Electric warn that PowerChute Serial Shutdown 1.5 and prior lack brute-force protection, allowing unauthorized account access via unlimited authentication attempts.
CVE-2026-13348 (CWE-307, CVSS 5.3) in Schneider Electric PowerChute Serial Shutdown versions 1.5 and prior lets attackers perform an arbitrary number of authentication attempts when redirect handling is disabled, gaining unauthorized access to user accounts. The UPS management software is deployed across commercial facilities, critical manufacturing, energy, and IT sectors worldwide. CISA advisory ICSA-26-260-07 recommends network isolation, VPN-protected remote access, and applying the vendor fix.
- CVE-2026-13348: improper restriction of excessive authentication attempts (CWE-307)
- Exploitable when redirect handling is disabled; CVSS 3.1 score 5.3
- Affects PowerChute Serial Shutdown versions 1.5 and prior; fix available
- No evidence of exploitation reported
Vulnerabilities mentionedAll →
| CVE | Vulnerability | CVSS | EPSS | Flags | Affected | Exposure | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-13348 | Password brute-force flaw in Schneider Electric PowerChute Serial Shutdown Schneider Electric PowerChute Serial Shutdown, the management agent used with APC UPS devices, contains an improper restriction of excessive authentication attempts (CWE-307) that allows an unauthenticated attacker to make an arbitrary number of login attempts against a user account. The weakness manifests when redirect handling is disabled, in which case the software fails to enforce account lockout or rate limiting, enabling an online password brute-force attack. An attacker who succeeds gains unauthorized access to a PowerChute account; the CVSS 4.0 vector indicates low confidentiality impact with no direct integrity or availability impact, so the primary risk is unauthorized visibility into and use of a valid account. Any organization running the affected software is potentially affected, though installations whose web interface is reachable only from trusted internal networks face materially lower risk. No public proof-of-concept, CISA KEV listing, or confirmed in-the-wild exploitation is known; EPSS currently estimates a 0.3% probability of exploitation within 30 days. Do: Update PowerChute Serial Shutdown to the fixed release identified in Schneider Electric's security notification as soon as it is available. Until then, restrict access to the PowerChute web interface to trusted management networks using firewall rules, verify whether redirect handling has been disabled in your configuration (the condition under which the lockout bypass occurs), use strong unique credentials for PowerChute accounts, and monitor authentication logs for repeated failed login attempts. | 6.9 | <1% |
| largeon the order of 100,000+ installations worldwide (internet-exposed subset unknown and likely far smaller) |
Full article1,205 words · extracted from cisa.gov · click to collapse
Summary
Schneider Electric is aware of vulnerabilities in its PowerChute Serial Shutdown product. The PowerChute Serial Shutdown product is a UPS management software enabling graceful system shutdown and energy management capabilities for desktops, servers and workstations. Failure to apply the remediation provided below may risk improper authentication validation which could result in disruption of operations and access to system data.
The following versions of Schneider Electric PowerChute Serial Shutdown are affected:
- PowerChute Serial Shutdown vers:intdot/<=1.5, 1.6 (CVE-2026-13348)
| CVSS | Vendor | Equipment | Vulnerabilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| v3 5.3 | Schneider Electric | Schneider Electric PowerChute Serial Shutdown | Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts |
Background
- Critical Infrastructure Sectors: Commercial Facilities, Critical Manufacturing, Energy, Information Technology
- Countries/Areas Deployed: Worldwide
- Company Headquarters Location: France
Vulnerabilities
CVE-2026-13348
CWE-307: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts vulnerability exists that could allow an attacker to gain unauthorized access to a user account by performing an arbitrary number of authentication attempts when redirect handling is disabled.
Affected Products
Schneider Electric PowerChute Serial Shutdown
Vendor:
Schneider Electric
Product Version:
PowerChute Serial Shutdown Version 1.5 and prior
Product Status:
fixed, known_affected
Relevant CWE: CWE-307 Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts
Metrics
| CVSS Version | Base Score | Base Severity | Vector String |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 5.3 | MEDIUM | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N |
Acknowledgments
- Schneider Electric CPCERT reported this vulnerability to CISA.
General Security Recommendations
Schneider Electric strongly recommends the following industry cybersecurity best practices.
- Locate control and safety system networks and remote devices behind firewalls and isolate them from the business network.
- Install physical controls so no unauthorized personnel can access your industrial control and safety systems, components, peripheral equipment, and networks.
- Place all controllers in locked cabinets and never leave them in the “Program” mode.
- Never connect programming software to any network other than the network intended for that device.
- Scan all methods of mobile data exchange with the isolated network such as CDs, USB drives, etc. before use in the terminals or any node connected to these networks.
- Never allow mobile devices that have connected to any other network besides the intended network to connect to the safety or control networks without proper sanitation.
- Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and systems and ensure that they are not accessible from the Internet.
- When remote access is required, use secure methods, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Recognize that VPNs may have vulnerabilities and should be updated to the most current version available. Also, understand that VPNs are only as secure as the connected devices.
For more information refer to the Schneider Electric Recommended Cybersecurity Best Practices document.
For More Information
This document provides an overview of the identified vulnerability or vulnerabilities and actions required to mitigate. For more details and assistance on how to protect your installation, contact your local Schneider Electric representative or Schneider Electric Industrial Cybersecurity Services: https://www.se.com/ww/en/work/solutions/cybersecurity/. These organizations will be fully aware of this situation and can support you through the process. For further information related to cybersecurity in Schneider Electric’s products, visit the company’s cybersecurity support portal page: https://www.se.com/ww/en/work/support/cybersecurity/overview.jsp
LEGAL DISCLAIMER
THIS NOTIFICATION DOCUMENT, THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN, AND ANY MATERIALS LINKED FROM IT (COLLECTIVELY, THIS “NOTIFICATION”) ARE INTENDED TO HELP PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE IDENTIFIED SITUATION AND SUGGESTED MITIGATION ACTIONS, REMEDIATION, FIX, AND/OR GENERAL SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS AND IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS-IS” BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTY OR GUARANTEE OF ANY KIND. SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES RELATING TO THIS NOTIFICATION, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC MAKES NO WARRANTY THAT THE NOTIFICATION WILL RESOLVE THE IDENTIFIED SITUATION. IN NO EVENT SHALL SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES WHATSOEVER IN CONNECTION WITH THIS NOTIFICATION, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. YOUR USE OF THIS NOTIFICATION IS AT YOUR OWN RISK, AND YOU ARE SOLELY LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES TO YOUR SYSTEMS OR ASSETS OR OTHER LOSSES THAT MAY RESULT FROM YOUR USE OF THIS NOTIFICATION. SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC RESERVES THE RIGHT TO UPDATE OR CHANGE THIS NOTIFICATION AT ANY TIME AND IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION
Schneider's purpose is to create Impact by empowering all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On. Our mission is to be the trusted partner in Sustainability and Efficiency. We are a global industrial technology leader bringing world-leading expertise in electrification, automation and digitization to smart industries, resilient infrastructure, future-proof data centers, intelligent buildings, and intuitive homes. Anchored by our deep domain expertise, we provide integrated end-to-end lifecycle AI enabled Industrial IoT solutions with connected products, automation, software and services, delivering digital twins to enable profitable growth for our customers. We are a people company with an ecosystem of 150,000 colleagues and more than a million partners operating in over 100 countries to ensure proximity to our customers and stakeholders. We embrace diversity and inclusion in everything we do, guided by our meaningful purpose of a sustainable future for all. www.se.com
Legal Notice and Terms of Use
This product is provided subject to this Notification (https://www.cisa.gov/notification) and this Privacy & Use policy (https://www.cisa.gov/privacy-policy).
Recommended Practices
CISA recommends users take defensive measures to minimize the exploitation risk of these vulnerabilities.
- Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and/or systems, and ensure they are not accessible from the internet.
- Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls and isolate them from business networks.
- When remote access is required, use more secure methods, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), recognizing VPNs may have vulnerabilities and should be updated to the most recent version available. Also recognize VPN is only as secure as its connected devices.
CISA reminds organizations to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying defensive measures.
CISA also provides a section for control systems security recommended practices on the ICS webpage on cisa.gov. Several CISA products detailing cyber defense best practices are available for reading and download, including Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies.
CISA encourages organizations to implement recommended cybersecurity strategies for proactive defense of ICS assets. Additional mitigation guidance and recommended practices are publicly available on the ICS webpage at cisa.gov in the technical information paper, ICS-TIP-12-146-01B--Targeted Cyber Intrusion Detection and Mitigation Strategies.
Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.
Advisory Conversion Disclaimer
This ICSA is a verbatim republication of Schneider Electric CPCERT SEVD-2026-223-01 from a direct conversion of the vendor's Common Security Advisory Framework (CSAF) advisory. This is republished to CISA's website as a means of increasing visibility and is provided "as-is" for informational purposes only. CISA is not responsible for the editorial or technical accuracy of republished advisories and provides no warranties of any kind regarding any information contained within this advisory. Further, CISA does not endorse any commercial product or service. Please contact Schneider Electric CPCERT directly for any questions regarding this advisory.
Revision History
- Initial Release Date: 2026-08-11
| Date | Revision | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-11 | 1 | Original Release |
| 2026-09-17 | 2 | Initial CISA Republication of Schneider Electric CPCERT SEVD-2026-223-01 advisory |
Legal Notice and Terms of Use
Text extracted automatically; images, tables and formatting may be missing. Original: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-26-260-07