Cyber Resilience

CVE-2026-21654

RCE in Johnsoncontrols Frick Controls Quantum Hd Firmware ≤ 10.22

Published
27 February 2026
Modified
02 March 2026
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v4 8.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/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
EPSS Score 0.015 72th percentile
Risk Priority 48 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2026-21654 is a high-severity OS Command Injection (CWE-78) vulnerability in Johnsoncontrols Frick Controls Quantum Hd Firmware. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059); ranked in the top 28% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SA-11 (Developer Testing and Evaluation) and SI-10 (Information Input Validation) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

CVE-2026-21654 is an OS Command Injection vulnerability (CWE-78) affecting Johnson Controls Frick Controls Quantum HD in versions 10.22 and prior. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, with insufficient validation of input in certain parameters. This allows unexpected actions that impact device security even before authentication occurs. The vulnerability carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating critical severity.

Remote attackers require no privileges, authentication, or user interaction to exploit the issue over the network with low complexity. Successful exploitation enables arbitrary OS command execution on the affected device, potentially resulting in high-impact compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, such as full system control or disruption of industrial control functions.

CISA has published ICS Advisory ICSA-26-057-01, and Johnson Controls has issued related guidance via its Trust Center cybersecurity security advisories page, detailing mitigation steps for this vulnerability.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') vulnerability in Johnson Controls Frick Controls Quantum HD allows OS Command Injection. Insufficient validation of input in certain parameters may permit unexpected actions, which could impact the…

more

security of the device before authentication occurs.This issue affects Frick Controls Quantum HD version 10.22 and prior.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Execution
Adversaries may abuse command and script interpreters to execute commands, scripts, or binaries.
T1059.003 Windows Command Shell Execution
Adversaries may abuse the Windows command shell for execution.
T1059.004 Unix Shell Execution
Adversaries may abuse Unix shell commands and scripts for execution.
T1059.001 PowerShell Execution
Adversaries may abuse PowerShell commands and scripts for execution.
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2026-21658Same product: Johnsoncontrols Frick Controls Quantum Hd
CVE-2026-21656Same product: Johnsoncontrols Frick Controls Quantum Hd
CVE-2026-21657Same product: Johnsoncontrols Frick Controls Quantum Hd
CVE-2026-21659Same product: Johnsoncontrols Frick Controls Quantum Hd
CVE-2026-21660Same product: Johnsoncontrols Frick Controls Quantum Hd
CVE-2024-0292Shared CWE-78
CVE-2023-40479Shared CWE-78
CVE-2025-33206Shared CWE-78
CVE-2026-32608Shared CWE-78
CVE-2024-9916Shared CWE-78

Affected Assets

johnsoncontrols
frick controls quantum hd firmware
≤ 10.22

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.2.5
  • V1.2.8
  • V15.2.5

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

Developer testing and evaluation can discover missing or incorrect command sanitization during development.

Input validation directly neutralizes or rejects special characters that would otherwise alter OS command structure.

Least privilege reduces the permissions available to any process that could be subverted by injected commands.

Least functionality restricts available OS commands and interpreters, limiting the blast radius of injection.

Secure engineering principles require proper neutralization of untrusted input before command construction.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

PR.PS-06's SDLC practices directly require secure coding and input handling that blocks command-injection defects, yet the single broad outcome leaves many specific neutralization vectors and verification gaps unaddressed.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Routine patching/maintenance can remediate known command-injection CVEs in dependencies (partial forward) but does nothing to stop developers from introducing improper neutralization in custom code (none reverse).

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

finds

Security testing and code review target insecure use of operating-system command interfaces, catching command-injection flaws introduced during development.

References