CVE-2021-20599CWE-319

Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive InformationCleartext transmission of sensitive information vulnerability in MELSEC iQ-R series Safety CPU…

Critical · published October 14, 2021

CVSS v3.1
9.1
EPSS
1%
Percentile
72.4
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

🚨 A simple oversight could leave sensitive credentials dangling in the wind! An attacker can remotely access MELSEC iQ-R series CPUs without needing a password, which is truly alarming. 🔥 Think of it like a restaurant that forgot to shred its customer orders before throwing them in the trash; sensitive information can be picked up by anyone walking by. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to scoop up vital credentials the same way! If exploited, an attacker could log in to the CPU module, bypassing authentication entirely, which could lead to unauthorized control over critical safety systems. This could have catastrophic consequences in industrial environments, resulting in safety failures or even operational shutdowns!

Put simply

Think of it like a restaurant that forgot to shred its customer orders before throwing them in the trash; sensitive information can be picked up by anyone walking by. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to scoop up vital credentials the same way! This vulnerability allows remote unauthenticated attackers to gain access to the CPU modules of the MELSEC iQ-R series by obtaining credentials other than the password, which are transmitted in cleartext. This means sensitive information is not adequately protected during transmission.

What to do

If exploited, an attacker could log in to the CPU module, bypassing authentication entirely, which could lead to unauthorized control over critical safety systems. This could have catastrophic consequences in industrial environments, resulting in safety failures or even operational shutdowns! Immediately update to firmware version 27 or higher for the R08/16/32/120SFCPU and version 12 or higher for the SIL2 Process CPU models. Also, implement encryption protocols to safeguard sensitive information during transmission and regularly audit system configurations. You've got this! By taking these steps, you'll be well on your way to fortifying your defenses! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
9.1 · CRITICAL
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.01402 · 72.4th percentile
Weakness
CWE-319 · Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information
Published
2021-10-14T00:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 14 OCT 00:00Z
    Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive InformationCleartext transmission of sensitive information vulnerability in MELSEC iQ-R series Safety CPU…
    cvelistv5