LIP-ME20xC: Improper Authentication
CVE-2026-12504 is a high-severity improper authentication vulnerability in LIP-ME20xC from Loytec, with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 8.4 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. Affected LIP-ME20xC versions: 8.4.16 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.19% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of LIP-ME20xC you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loytec | LIP-ME20xC | 8.4.16 and earlier | Not stated |
| Loytec | L-INX | 8.4.16 and earlier | Not stated |
| Loytec | L-GATE | 8.4.16 and earlier | Not stated |
| Loytec | L-ROC | 8.4.16 and earlier | Not stated |
| Loytec | L-IOB | 8.4.16 and earlier | Not stated |
| Loytec | L-DALI | 8.4.16 and earlier | Not stated |
| Loytec | L-VIS | 8.4.16 and earlier | Not stated |
| Loytec | L-PAD | 8.4.16 and earlier | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Attack requirements
- NoneThe attack does not depend on a particular deployment or configuration.
- Privileges required
- HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Confidentiality (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of confidentiality on the vulnerable system.
- Integrity (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of integrity on the vulnerable system.
- Availability (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of availability on the vulnerable system.
- Confidentiality (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of confidentiality on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Integrity (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of integrity on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Availability (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of availability on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X. Scored by CNA (ncsc.ch).
Official description
Improper Authentication (CWE-287) in the PAM configuration in Loytec LIP-ME201C, L-INX, L-GATE, L-ROC, L-IOB, L-DALI, L-VIS and L-PAD through 8.4.16 on LINX-A64 allows a local attacker to authenticate as a uid=0 account without a password and obtain a root shell via an `/etc/passwd` entry with an empty password field.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Authentication
When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use an authentication framework or library such as the OWASP ESAPI Authentication feature.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in LIP-ME20xC
- 8.7 High severity
- 9.2 Critical severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 8.7 High severity
Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
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