CVE-2014-2345 in zenon DNP3 NG driver
Summary
by MITRE
COPA-DATA zenon DNP3 NG driver (DNP3 master) 7.10 and 7.11 through 7.11 SP0 build 10238 and zenon DNP3 Process Gateway (DNP3 outstation) 7.11 SP0 build 10238 and earlier allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop and process crash) by sending a crafted DNP3 packet over TCP.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2345 affects COPA-DATA zenon DNP3 NG driver and DNP3 Process Gateway software versions 7.10 through 7.11 SP0 build 10238. This represents a critical denial of service weakness that specifically targets the DNP3 communication protocol implementation within industrial automation systems. The affected components serve as master and outstation drivers in DNP3 networks, which are commonly deployed in critical infrastructure environments including power grid control systems, water treatment facilities, and other industrial control systems where reliable communication between supervisory control and data acquisition systems is paramount. The vulnerability manifests through improper handling of malformed DNP3 packets transmitted over TCP connections, creating a condition where the affected software enters an infinite loop and subsequently crashes the process.
The technical flaw resides in the DNP3 protocol parser implementation within the COPA-DATA software stack, where specific crafted packet structures trigger unhandled exception conditions that lead to resource exhaustion and system instability. When a remote attacker sends a specially constructed DNP3 packet over TCP, the software's packet processing logic fails to properly validate or handle the malformed data structure, causing the application to enter an infinite loop state where it continuously processes the malformed packet without proper termination conditions. This behavior directly violates the principle of robust error handling and input validation that is fundamental to secure software development practices. The vulnerability specifically affects the DNP3 master and outstation implementations, which are critical components in industrial communication protocols that facilitate data exchange between field devices and control systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can compromise the integrity of industrial control systems that rely on continuous communication between components. In critical infrastructure environments, such as electric power grids or water distribution systems, the denial of service condition could potentially lead to loss of operational visibility, inability to monitor or control field devices, and cascading failures that affect broader system operations. The remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger the vulnerability from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or local credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network security controls may be insufficient. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to denial of service conditions that can have severe operational consequences.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of vendor patches or updates that address the specific DNP3 packet parsing logic. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of affected systems to untrusted networks, while also deploying network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous DNP3 traffic patterns. The implementation of intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify malformed DNP3 packets can provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their industrial control system environments to identify all instances of affected software versions and ensure proper patch management processes are in place. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of applying security updates promptly in industrial environments where the consequences of denial of service attacks can be severe and potentially life-threatening. The incident also highlights the need for robust input validation and error handling in industrial communication protocols, as specified in various security frameworks including those referenced in the ATT&CK framework under the process injection and denial of service tactics.