Unprotected Private Key Allows Remote Hacking of PLCs

 

Industrial associations have been cautioned for this present week that a critical authentication bypass vulnerability can permit hackers to remotely compromise programmable logic controllers (PLCs) made by industrial automation giant Rockwell Automation that are marketed under the Logix brand. These gadgets, which range from the size of a little toaster to a huge bread box or considerably bigger, help control equipment and processes on assembly lines and in other manufacturing environments. Engineers program the PLCs utilizing Rockwell software called Studio 5000 Logix Designer. 

The vulnerability requires a low skill level to be exploited, CISA said. The vulnerability, which is followed as CVE-2021-22681, is the consequence of the Studio 5000 Logix Designer software making it possible for hackers to exfiltrate a secret encryption key. This key is hard-coded into both Logix controllers and engineering stations and confirms correspondence between the two gadgets. A hacker who got the key could then copy an engineering workstation and manipulate PLC code or configurations that directly impact a manufacturing process.

“Any affected Rockwell Logix controller that is exposed on the Internet is potentially vulnerable and exploitable,” said Sharon Brizinov, principal vulnerability researcher at Claroty, one of three organizations Rockwell credited with independently discovering the flaw. “To successfully exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must first obtain the secret key and have the knowledge of the cryptographic algorithm being used in the authentication process.” 

Rockwell isn't issuing a patch that straightforwardly addresses the issues coming from the hard-coded key. Instead, the organization is suggesting that PLC clients follow explicit risk mitigation steps. The steps include putting the controller mode switch into run, and if that is impractical, following different suggestions that are explicit to each PLC model.

 Those steps are laid out in an advisory Rockwell is making accessible to clients, just as in the CISA warning. Rockwell and CISA likewise suggest PLC clients adhere to standard security-in-depth security advice. Chief among the suggestions is guaranteeing that control system gadgets aren't accessible from the Internet. On the off chance that Logix PLC clients are segmenting industrial control networks and following other prescribed procedures, almost certainly, the risk posed by CVE-2021-22681 is negligible. What's more, if individuals haven't executed these practices, hackers likely have simpler ways to hijack the devices.

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