The CISA ICS Advisory for Rockwell Automation’s 5015-U8IHFT highlights a critical vulnerability identified in the device. The issue, a denial-of-service (DoS) vulnerability, arises from improper input validation. If exploited, a malformed CIP (Common Industrial Protocol) packet sent over the network to the device could result in a major, non-recoverable fault. This would cause the device to enter a denial-of-service state, disrupting its operations. The vulnerability affects versions 1.012 and prior of the 5015-U8IHFT I/O module, and successful exploitation can cause significant system downtime.
The vulnerability, assigned CVE-2024-45825, has been assigned a CVSS v4 score of 8.7, indicating high severity. The attack requires low complexity, meaning attackers can exploit it with minimal effort. The CVSS vector string for this vulnerability is (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N), highlighting its potential for remote exploitation. No known public exploitation has been reported yet, but the risk of such an attack is considerable, especially for critical manufacturing environments where the device is deployed globally.
To mitigate the risk, Rockwell Automation recommends upgrading to version 2.011 or later of the 5015-U8IHFT. If users cannot update to the newer version, they are encouraged to follow security best practices, such as isolating control systems behind firewalls and minimizing exposure to the internet. CISA advises organizations to use secure remote access methods, like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), and to update devices regularly. Additionally, users should avoid archiving or restoring projects from unknown sources, which could expose them to further risks.
CISA also provides further guidance on mitigating risks related to industrial control systems (ICS). Best practices for securing ICS assets include performing impact analysis and risk assessments before deploying defense measures. The advisory emphasizes the importance of proactive cybersecurity strategies and staying updated on new threats. Organizations are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to CISA to improve tracking and correlation of incidents across the cybersecurity community.
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