CVE-2012-4695 in RSLinx Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE
LogReceiver.exe in Rockwell Automation RSLinx Enterprise CPR9, CPR9-SR1, CPR9-SR2, CPR9-SR3, CPR9-SR4, CPR9-SR5, CPR9-SR5.1, and CPR9-SR6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (service outage) via a zero-byte UDP packet that is not properly handled by Logger.dll.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/28/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4695 affects Rockwell Automation RSLinx Enterprise versions ranging from CPR9 through CPR9-SR6, specifically targeting the LogReceiver.exe component. This issue represents a classic denial of service vulnerability that exploits improper handling of network packets within the logging infrastructure of industrial control systems. The affected software operates within critical manufacturing and industrial automation environments where continuous system availability is paramount for operational integrity and safety.
The technical flaw resides in the Logger.dll library which fails to properly process zero-byte UDP packets sent to the LogReceiver.exe service. When such malformed packets are received, the system's packet handling mechanism becomes unstable and terminates the logging service, resulting in complete service outage. This behavior stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the network communication stack, specifically in how the software processes UDP datagrams of zero length. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear lack of defensive programming practices that would normally include bounds checking and proper state management for network inputs.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to industrial environments where RSLinx Enterprise serves as a critical communication hub between various industrial devices and monitoring systems. The remote exploitation capability means attackers can potentially disrupt operations from outside the physical network perimeter, leading to production downtime, data loss, and potential safety hazards in industrial processes. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as it can compromise the integrity of industrial communication networks, affecting supervisory control and data acquisition systems that depend on continuous logging capabilities for process monitoring and control.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes improper handling of input data as a primary weakness leading to denial of service conditions. From an attack framework perspective, this issue maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, specifically targeting network denial of service through exploitation of service vulnerabilities. Organizations implementing industrial control systems should consider this vulnerability as part of broader cybersecurity strategies, particularly in environments following IEC 62443 standards where system availability and resilience against malicious attacks are critical requirements for operational technology security.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate application of vendor patches and updates, network segmentation to limit exposure of critical industrial systems, and implementation of network monitoring to detect anomalous UDP traffic patterns. System administrators should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and block zero-byte packet traffic, while establishing robust network access controls to prevent unauthorized remote access to industrial communication infrastructure. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing of industrial control systems remain essential practices to identify and remediate similar weaknesses before they can be exploited by threat actors.