CVE-2020-14513 Unknown Vendor CVE debrief

Who should care

OT/ICS administrators, Festo Automation Suite users, CODESYS/CodeMeter operators, and any team managing engineering workstations or production systems that process CodeMeter license files.

Technical summary

CVE-2020-14513 describes a crash condition in CodeMeter (all versions prior to 6.81) when processing a specifically crafted license file. The stated cause is unverified length fields during parsing. The advisory material identifies impacted Festo Automation Suite/CODESYS combinations and notes that starting with Festo Automation Suite 2.8.0.138, CODESYS is no longer bundled and must be downloaded and installed separately.

Defensive priority

High. The CVSS vector is network-capable, requires no privileges or user interaction, and impacts availability. In industrial or engineering environments, even a crash-only issue can disrupt operations, so patching and component inventory should be prioritized.

Recommended defensive actions

• Update CodeMeter to version 6.81 or later, following the vendor's remediation guidance.
• Upgrade Festo Automation Suite to version 2.8.0.138 or later.
• Install the latest patched CODESYS release directly from the official CODESYS website.
• Follow vendor installation and update instructions to ensure all security fixes are applied.
• Monitor Festo and CODESYS security advisories and apply updates promptly.
• Keep the Festo Automation Suite connector updated with released FAS updates.
• Identify systems running Festo Automation Suite versions older than 2.8.0.138 and any CodeMeter deployments earlier than 6.81.

Evidence notes

The source advisory states: 'CodeMeter (All versions prior to 6.81) and the software using it may crash while processing a specifically crafted license file due to unverified length fields.' The advisory metadata and references place the issue in the Festo Automation Suite/CODESYS ecosystem, and remediation says Festo Automation Suite 2.8.0.138 no longer bundles CODESYS. CISA's revision history shows the advisory was initially published on 2026-02-26 and republished on 2026-03-17 as an initial CISA republication of Festo advisory FSA-202601.

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.