CVE-2020-8479

What it is

For the Central Licensing Server component used in ABB products ABB Ability™ System 800xA and related system extensions versions 5.1, 6.0 and 6.1, Compact HMI versions 5.1 and 6.0, Control Builder Safe 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0, Symphony Plus -S+ Operations 3.0 to 3.2 Symphony Plus -S+ Engineering 1.1 to 2.2, Composer Harmony 5.1, 6.0 and 6.1, Melody Composer 5.3, 6.1/6.2 and SPE for Melody 1.0SPx (Composer 6.3), Harmony OPC Server (HAOPC) Standalone 6.0, 6.1 and 7.0, ABB Ability™ System 800xA/ Advant® OCS Control Builder A 1.3 and 1.4, Advant® OCS AC100 OPC Server 5.1, 6.0 and 6.1, Composer CTK 6.1 and 6.2, AdvaBuild 3.7 SP1 and SP2, OPCServer for MOD 300 (non-800xA) 1.4, OPC Data Link 2.1 and 2.2, Knowledge Manager 8.0, 9.0 and 9.1, Manufacturing Operations Management 1812 and 1909, ABB AbilityTM SCADAvantage versions 5.1 to 5.6.5. an XML External Entity Injection vulnerability exists that allows an attacker to read or call arbitrary files from the license server and/or from the network and also block the license handling.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited over the network without logging in. High risk of data exposure, data tampering.

Exploit odds

2.3% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2020-04-29 02:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 03:26 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 2.3% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 9.4 CRITICAL (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2020-04-29 02:15 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 03:26 UTC

Exploit probability

2.3% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-91

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Abb 800xa System 5.1
• Abb 800xa System 6.0
• Abb 800xa System 6.0.1
• Abb 800xa System 6.0.3
• Abb 800xa System 6.1
• Abb Compact Hmi 5.1
• Abb Compact Hmi 6.0.1-1
• Abb Compact Hmi 6.0.3-2

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 9.4

Attack vector

Network

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

None

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

Low

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2020-8479.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2020-8479. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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