Rockwell Automation ControlFLASH
CISA advisory for CVE-2026-12663 (CVSS 7.3) in Rockwell Automation ControlFLASH <=V15.07: world-writable install directory enables local code execution.
Rockwell Automation reported CVE-2026-12663 in ControlFLASH V15.07 and earlier, where the installer grants write permissions on the installation directory to the Everyone group. An attacker could plant malicious code there and execute it at the logged-in user's privilege level. The issue is local only and not remotely exploitable; no public exploitation has been reported to CISA.
- Everyone-group write permissions on the installation directory enable arbitrary code execution
- Local attack vector only; not exploitable remotely
- Affects ControlFLASH V15.07 and earlier across manufacturing, energy, and water sectors
Vulnerabilities mentionedAll →
| CVE | Vulnerability | CVSS | EPSS | Flags | Affected | Exposure | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-12663 | Everyone-Group Write Permissions in Rockwell ControlFLASH Allow Local Code Execution The ControlFLASH installer grants write permissions to the Windows 'Everyone' group on the product's installation directory, leaving that directory writable by any local account. An attacker who already has low-privileged access to the machine can plant or modify files in the directory, and when a user launches ControlFLASH the attacker's code runs at that logged-in user's permission level (user interaction is required). This gives the attacker arbitrary code execution of their choosing on the target machine, though within the privileges of the launching user rather than full system-level escalation. Any Windows host where ControlFLASH was installed with these default permissions is affected, typically engineering or maintenance workstations in Rockwell Automation/Allen-Bradley environments. There is no known public proof-of-concept, the issue is not in CISA's KEV catalog, and EPSS predicts only a 0.1% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days. Do: Check Rockwell Automation's security advisory for the affected ControlFLASH versions and fixed release, and update the installer/software when available; as an interim measure, audit the ACLs on the ControlFLASH installation directory (e.g., with icacls) and remove write access for the Everyone group, restricting write permissions to administrators. Identify workstations where ControlFLASH is installed, limit local logon to trusted accounts, and monitor the installation directory for unexpected or modified files. | 7.0 | <1% |
| large≈100,000+ engineering/maintenance workstations worldwide (order-of-magnitude estimate) |
Full article453 words · extracted from cisa.gov · click to collapse
Summary
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could give an attacker the ability to run any commands or code of the attacker's choice on a target machine at the logged-in user's permission level.
The following versions of Rockwell Automation ControlFLASH are affected:
- ControlFLASH <=V15.07 (CVE-2026-12663)
| CVSS | Vendor | Equipment | Vulnerabilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| v3 7.3 | Rockwell Automation | Rockwell Automation ControlFLASH | Missing Authentication for Critical Function |
Background
- Critical Infrastructure Sectors: Critical Manufacturing, Energy, Water and Wastewater
- Countries/Areas Deployed: Worldwide
- Company Headquarters Location: United States
Vulnerabilities
CVE-2026-12663
A security issue exists within ControlFLASH, where the installer grants write permissions to the "Everyone" group on a product installation directory. This could allow arbitrary code execution, resulting in an attacker being given the ability to run any commands or code of the attacker's choice on a target machine at the logged-in user's permission level.
Affected Products
Rockwell Automation ControlFLASH
Vendor:
Rockwell Automation
Product Version:
Rockwell Automation ControlFLASH: <=V15.07
Product Status:
known_affected
Relevant CWE: CWE-306 Missing Authentication for Critical Function
Metrics
| CVSS Version | Base Score | Base Severity | Vector String |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 7.3 | HIGH | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| 4.0 | 7 | HIGH | CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N |
Acknowledgments
- Rockwell Automation reported this vulnerability to CISA.
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 risk of exploitation of this vulnerability. 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/ics. 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/ics 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.
CISA also recommends users take the following measures to protect themselves from social engineering attacks: Do not click web links or open attachments in unsolicited email messages. Refer to Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams for more information on avoiding email scams. Refer to Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information on social engineering attacks.
No known public exploitation specifically targeting this vulnerability has been reported to CISA at this time. This vulnerability is not exploitable remotely.
Revision History
- Initial Release Date: 2026-09-03
| Date | Revision | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-03 | 1 | Initial Republication of Rockwell Automation security 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-26-246-03