CVE-2026-16675
Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk® Activation Manager - Privilege Escalation
A privilege escalation security issue exists within FactoryTalk® Activation Manager. The security issue stems from custom actions in the installer that spawn visible console windows running with SYSTEM privileges during installation or repair operations. An authenticated attacker with Windows credentials could hijack these console windows to obtain a SYSTEM-level command prompt, allowing full access to all files, processes, and system resources.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
Rockwell Automation FactoryTalk® Activation Manager - Privilege Escalation
A privilege escalation security issue exists within FactoryTalk® Activation Manager. The security issue stems from custom actions in the installer that spawn visible console windows running with SYSTEM privileges during installation or repair operations. An authenticated attacker with Windows credentials could hijack these console windows to obtain a SYSTEM-level command prompt, allowing full access to all files, processes, and system resources.
- Record
CVE-2026-16675- CVSS 4.0
- 8.5 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Weakness
- CWE-307
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2026-69128
A privilege escalation security issue exists within FactoryTalk® Activation Manager. The security issue stems from custom actions in the installer that spawn visible console windows running with SYSTEM privileges during installation or repair operations. An authenticated attacker with Windows credentials could hijack these console windows to obtain a SYSTEM-level command prompt, allowing full access to all files, processes, and system resources.
- Record
EUVD-2026-69128- CVSS 4.0
- 8.5 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-8hp8-739v-6gxv
A privilege escalation security issue exists within FactoryTalk® Activation Manager. The security...
A privilege escalation security issue exists within FactoryTalk® Activation Manager. The security issue stems from custom actions in the installer that spawn visible console windows running with SYSTEM privileges during installation or repair operations. An authenticated attacker with Windows credentials could hijack these console windows to obtain a SYSTEM-level command prompt, allowing full access to all files, processes, and system resources.
- Record
GHSA-8hp8-739v-6gxv- CVSS 4.0
- 8.5 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/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 - Weakness
- CWE-307
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
A privilege escalation security issue exists within FactoryTalk® Activation Manager. The security issue stems from custom actions in the installer that spawn visible console windows running with SYSTEM privileges during installation or repair operations. An authenticated attacker with Windows credentials could hijack these console windows to obtain a SYSTEM-level command prompt, allowing full access to all files, processes, and system resources.
- Record
CVE-2026-16675- CVSS 4.0
- 8.5 High
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/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 - Weakness
- CWE-307
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-16675 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.5) in Rockwell Automation Factorytalk® Activation Manager, published September 1, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.14%, the 3rd percentile. No source names a fixed version.