PatchSiren

PatchSiren cyber security CVE debrief

CVE-2020-14509 Unknown Vendor CVE debrief

CVE-2020-14509 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability affecting CodeMeter versions prior to 7.10. According to the advisory, the packet parser does not verify length fields, and an attacker can send specially crafted packets to trigger the issue. In the CISA-republished advisory context, this affects Festo Automation Suite environments that include CODESYS components, with remediation centered on moving to the patched, updated product versions and applying vendor guidance promptly.

Vendor
Unknown Vendor
Product
FESTO
CVSS
CRITICAL 9.8
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-02-26
Original CVE updated
2026-03-17
Advisory published
2026-02-26
Advisory updated
2026-03-17

Who should care

Industrial automation teams, OT/ICS administrators, and asset owners running Festo Automation Suite or CODESYS-related components should treat this as high priority. Security and patch-management teams responsible for externally reachable or network-connected engineering workstations and related industrial software should also review exposure.

Technical summary

The underlying flaw is multiple memory corruption vulnerabilities in CodeMeter caused by missing length-field validation in the packet parser. The supplied advisory identifies the issue as network-exploitable with no privileges and no user interaction required, and the CVSS vector is 9.8/Critical (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). The CISA CSAF source ties the issue to Festo Automation Suite and CODESYS packaging context, with remediation noting that Festo Automation Suite 2.8.0.138 no longer bundles CODESYS and instructing customers to obtain patched CODESYS releases directly and keep the Festo connector updated.

Defensive priority

Immediate. This is a critical, remotely reachable memory corruption issue with potential for full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Prioritize identification of affected installations, rapid patching, and validation that all CODESYS and Festo Automation Suite components are on supported, remediated versions.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Inventory systems running Festo Automation Suite and any CODESYS-related components to determine exposure to versions prior to the remediated releases.
  • Upgrade to the latest patched CodeMeter/CODESYS components and follow the vendor installation and update instructions exactly.
  • Install Festo Automation Suite updates as released, including connector updates referenced in the advisory.
  • For Festo Automation Suite 2.8.0.138 and later, ensure any separately installed CODESYS component is sourced from the official vendor and is fully patched.
  • Review network exposure for industrial engineering hosts and restrict unnecessary access to affected services where feasible.
  • Monitor vendor and CISA advisories for follow-on updates or clarification related to the advisory revision history.

Evidence notes

The source corpus is a CISA CSAF republication of a Festo advisory, titled 'CODESYS in Festo Automation Suite.' The advisory text states: 'Multiple memory corruption vulnerabilities exist in CodeMeter (All versions prior to 7.10) where the packet parser mechanism does not verify length fields. An attacker could send specially crafted packets to exploit these vulnerabilities.' The remediation section recommends downloading the latest patched version of CODESYS directly from the official website, following vendor update instructions, monitoring CODESYS advisories, and keeping the Festo Automation Suite connector updated. The supplied timeline shows initial publication on 2026-02-26 and republication on 2026-03-17.

Official resources

The supplied source timeline shows the advisory initially published on 2026-02-26 and republished by CISA on 2026-03-17. Those dates are the relevant disclosure context in this corpus; they should not be conflated with the CVE identifier’s