HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2020-24685
HIGH

CVE-2020-24685

CWE-789Published: February 9, 2021· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

8.6
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

An unauthenticated specially crafted packet sent by an attacker over the network will cause a denial-of-service (DoS) vulnerability. Vulnerability allows attacker to stop the PLC. After stopping (ERR LED flashing red), physical access to the PLC is required in order to restart the application. This issue affects: ABB AC500 V2 products with onboard Ethernet version 2.8.4 and prior versions.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2020-24685 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

A successful exploit results in availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 8.6.

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 VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.None
User InteractionNone
ScopeChanged
Impact
ConfidentialityNone
IntegrityNone
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

abb3 product(s)
ac500 cpu firmwarepm573-ethpm583-eth
Source: NVD CPE · 3 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)

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2020-24685
CVSS Score8.6 / 10
SeverityHIGH
WeaknessCWE-789
CISA KEVNo
Affected1 vendor(s)
PublishedFeb 9, 2021

Related CVEs (CWE-789)

Recommended Actions

  • Apply vendor patches immediately
  • Monitor CVE-2020-24685 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.