# CVE-2021-27460: Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk AssetCentre Deserialization of Untrusted Data

Status: published. Published: 2022-03-23. Updated: 2026-06-17.

Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk AssetCentre v10.00 and earlier components contain .NET remoting endpoints that deserialize untrusted data without sufficiently verifying that the resulting data will be valid. This vulnerability may allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to gain full access to the FactoryTalk AssetCentre main server and all agent machines.

## Remediation

- fix: Rockwell Automation encourages users of the affected versions of FactoryTalk AssetCentre to update to AssetCentre v11 (or above) to addresses these vulnerabilities.  For more information about these vulnerabilities and mitigations please see Rockwell Automation’s publication KnowledgeBase ID: PN1559

As an additional mitigation, Rockwell Automation encourages users who are unable to upgrade or are concerned about unauthorized client connections to use built in security features found within FactoryTalk AssetCentre. Users should follow guidance found in QA46277. IPsec would minimize exposure to unauthorized clients and has been tested in FactoryTalk AssetCentre v9-v11 (source: CNA: icscert)
- workaround: Rockwell Automation recommends the following software/PC-based mitigation strategies:
Run all software as User, not as an Administrator, to minimize the impact of malicious code on the infected system.
Use Microsoft AppLocker or other similar allow list applications to help mitigate risk. Information on using AppLocker with Rockwell Automation products is available at Knowledge Base Article QA17329
Ensure the least-privilege user principle is followed, and user/service account access to shared resources (such as a database) is only granted with a minimum number of rights as needed.

Rockwell Automation recommends the following general mitigations:
Use trusted software, software patches, antivirus/antimalware programs and interact only with trusted web sites and attachments.
Minimize network exposure for all control system devices and/or systems and ensure they are not accessible from the Internet. For further information about the risks of unprotected Internet accessible control systems, please see Knowledgebase Article PN715
Locate control system networks and devices behind firewalls and isolate them from the business network.
When remote access is required, use secure methods, such as virtual private networks (VPNs), recognizing that VPNs may have vulnerabilities and should be updated to the most current version available. Also recognize a VPN is only as secure as the connected devices. (source: CNA: icscert)

## Affected products and versions

- Rockwell Automation / FactoryTalk AssetCentre: ≤ v10.00 (affected, custom). Source: CNA: icscert

## NVD configuration conditions

Affected CPE matches depend on the following AND/OR and negation conditions:

```json
[
  {
    "negate": false,
    "nodes": [
      {
        "cpeMatch": [
          {
            "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:rockwellautomation:factorytalk_assetcentre:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
            "versionEndIncluding": "10.00",
            "vulnerable": true
          }
        ],
        "negate": false,
        "operator": "OR"
      }
    ],
    "operator": "OR"
  }
]
```

## Severity and prioritization

- CVSS 3.1: 10 (critical); CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:H; source: CNA: icscert

- CVSS 3.1: 9.8 (critical); CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H; source: NVD: nvd@nist.gov

- CVSS 3.1: 10 (critical); CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:H; source: NVD: ics-cert@hq.dhs.gov

- CVSS 2.0: 7.5 (high); AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P; source: NVD: nvd@nist.gov

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: 3.19% as of 2026-11-01; percentile 88.12%

- SSVC: exploitation none; automatable yes; technical impact partial; source ADP: CISA-ADP

- Weaknesses: CWE-502

## Exploit evidence

No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.

## References

- https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ics/advisories/icsa-21-091-01 (CNA: icscert; x_refsource_CONFIRM)

- https://idp.rockwellautomation.com/adfs/ls/idpinitiatedsignon.aspx?RelayState=RPID%3Drockwellautomation.custhelp.com%26RelayState%3Danswers%2Fanswer_view%2Fa_id%2F1130831 (CNA: icscert; x_refsource_CONFIRM)

- https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ics/advisories/icsa-21-091-01 (ADP: CVE; x_refsource_CONFIRM, x_transferred)

- https://idp.rockwellautomation.com/adfs/ls/idpinitiatedsignon.aspx?RelayState=RPID%3Drockwellautomation.custhelp.com%26RelayState%3Danswers%2Fanswer_view%2Fa_id%2F1130831 (ADP: CVE; x_refsource_CONFIRM, x_transferred)

- https://idp.rockwellautomation.com/adfs/ls/idpinitiatedsignon.aspx?RelayState=RPID%3Drockwellautomation.custhelp.com%26RelayState%3Danswers%2Fanswer_view%2Fa_id%2F1130831 (ics-cert@hq.dhs.gov; Permissions Required, Vendor Advisory)

- https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ics/advisories/icsa-21-091-01 (ics-cert@hq.dhs.gov; Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource)

- https://idp.rockwellautomation.com/adfs/ls/idpinitiatedsignon.aspx?RelayState=RPID%3Drockwellautomation.custhelp.com%26RelayState%3Danswers%2Fanswer_view%2Fa_id%2F1130831 (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108; Permissions Required, Vendor Advisory)

- https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ics/advisories/icsa-21-091-01 (af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108; Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource)

## Provenance

- CNA: icscert: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-27460; retrieved 2026-11-01; source updated 2025-04-16

- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-27460; retrieved 2026-11-01; source updated 2026-06-17

- FIRST EPSS: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2021-27460; retrieved 2026-11-01; source updated Not reported

Revision: aa52ff75464c8fee95f2a5756e7911b709c5052c4dc6e8c16327ab796c12ba7c

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2021-27460