# What is CVE-2016-8354?

> CVE-2016-8354 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.0) in Unity Pro from Schneider-Electric, published on 13 February 2017. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 1.1%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2016-8354

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Plan it in. No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 45 out of 100 (Medium); action: Plan remediation. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** High (CVSS 7.0 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** No, not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 1.1% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 13 February 2017
- **Record last updated:** 20 April 2025
- **Main product:** Unity Pro from Schneider-Electric
- **Affected products:** 1

## What is CVE-2016-8354? In plain terms

An attacker has to be already on the device without logging in, but a person has to take an action first. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### The official description

An issue was discovered in Schneider Electric Unity PRO prior to V11.1. Unity projects can be compiled as x86 instructions and loaded onto the PLC Simulator delivered with Unity PRO. These x86 instructions are subsequently executed directly by the simulator. A specially crafted patched Unity project file can make the simulator execute malicious code by redirecting the control flow of these instructions.

### What kind of flaw is it?

- CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: Already on the device
- How hard it is to pull off: Hard: conditions must line up
- Login needed first: No login needed
- Does someone have to click: Yes, a person has to take an action
- What an attacker gets: Can read data, change data and take it offline

Severity vector: `CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Is CVE-2016-8354 being exploited? Not that we know of

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 1.1%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 1.1%, 1.1%, 1.1%, 1.1%, 1.1%, 1.1%, 1.1%.

### Timeline

- 13 February 2017: Published
- 20 April 2025: Record last updated

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2016-8354 scores **45 out of 100 (Medium)**, with the action "Plan remediation".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: smaller factor
- Threat activity around it: smaller factor

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2016-8354?

The published record lists 1 product.

- [Unity Pro](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/schneider-electric/unity_pro) by [Schneider-Electric](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/schneider-electric) (Application): up to 11.0

## How do I fix CVE-2016-8354?

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the latest update from the vendor. The references list where the vendor has published details.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Keep an eye on it.** Track the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood.

### References

- [securityfocus.com](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/93830) (Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database)
- [ics-cert.us-cert.gov](https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-16-306-03) (Third-party advisory, Government resource)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2016-8354?

CVE-2016-8354 is a high-severity flaw in Unity Pro from Schneider-Electric, published on 13 February 2017. An attacker has to be already on the device without logging in, but a person has to take an action first. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline.

### How serious is CVE-2016-8354?

It scores 7.0 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is high. Our risk score for CVE-2016-8354 is 45 out of 100, which is Medium. Its action is "Plan remediation". No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle.

### Is CVE-2016-8354 being exploited?

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 1.1%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

### Which versions does CVE-2016-8354 affect?

For Unity Pro from Schneider-Electric: up to 11.0.

### How do I fix CVE-2016-8354?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet.

## Does CVE-2016-8354 affect you?

Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you:

- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

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