HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2020-16235
MEDIUM

CVE-2020-16235

CWE-326Published: May 19, 2022· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

6.5
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Inadequate encryption may allow the credentials used by Emerson OpenEnterprise, up through version 3.3.5, to access field devices and external systems to be obtained.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2020-16235 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.

Exploitation requires low privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), with a CVSS base score of 6.5.

The vulnerability has a "Changed" scope, meaning successful exploitation can impact components beyond the vulnerable component itself — such as the host operating system or adjacent services.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorLocal
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.Low
User InteractionNone
ScopeChanged
Impact
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityNone
AvailabilityNone
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N

Affected Vendors & Products

emerson1 product(s)
openenterprise scada server
Source: NVD CPE · 1 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

All References (2)

https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ics/advisories/icsa-20-238-02Third Party Advisory · US Government Resource
https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ics/advisories/icsa-20-238-02Third Party Advisory · US Government Resource

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2020-16235
CVSS Score6.5 / 10
SeverityMEDIUM
WeaknessCWE-326
CISA KEVNo
Affected1 vendor(s)
PublishedMay 19, 2022

Related CVEs (CWE-326)

Recommended Actions

  • Apply vendor patches immediately
  • Monitor CVE-2020-16235 in threat intel feeds
  • Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.