CVE-2021-22681 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2021-22681, a vulnerability affecting Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 Logix Designer and RSLogix 5000, among others.

Understanding CVE-2021-22681

This section delves into the nature and impact of CVE-2021-22681.

What is CVE-2021-22681?

CVE-2021-22681 affects Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 Logix Designer Versions 21 and later, as well as RSLogix 5000 Versions 16 through 20. These versions employ a key to verify proper communication with various Logix controllers.

The Impact of CVE-2021-22681

The vulnerability arises from an authentication bypass that allows unauthenticated attackers to circumvent the verification mechanism and gain access to Rockwell Automation controllers.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-22681

In this section, we explore the specific technical aspects of CVE-2021-22681.

Vulnerability Description

Rockwell Automation Studio 5000 Logix Designer and RSLogix 5000 versions mentioned above are vulnerable to unauthorized access, potentially compromising the security of Logix controllers.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts a range of Rockwell Automation products, including CompactLogix, ControlLogix, DriveLogix, Compact GuardLogix, GuardLogix, and SoftLogix.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows attackers to bypass the authentication key, granting them unauthorized access to Logix controllers.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2021-22681.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should apply relevant security patches and follow best practices for securing industrial control systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing strong credential management and network segmentation can enhance the overall security posture.

Patching and Updates

Regularly updating software and firmware to the latest versions provided by Rockwell Automation is crucial to address this vulnerability.