CVE-2014-2346 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 physically proximate attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop and process crash) via crafted input over a serial line.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2346 affects COPA-DATA zenon DNP3 NG driver versions 7.10 and 7.11 through 7.11 SP0 build 10238, as well as the zenon DNP3 Process Gateway versions 7.11 SP0 build 10238 and earlier. This flaw represents a critical denial of service vulnerability that specifically targets DNP3 communication protocols used in industrial control systems and SCADA environments. The vulnerability manifests when malicious input is transmitted over a serial line connection, exploiting a fundamental flaw in the input validation mechanisms of these industrial communication components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization within the DNP3 master and outstation communication drivers. When crafted malicious data is received through serial communication channels, the system enters an infinite loop condition that ultimately results in process crashes and complete system unavailability. This behavior directly maps to CWE-835, which describes the weakness of an infinite loop or infinite recursion in software implementations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only physical proximity for exploitation, making it accessible to attackers who can establish serial connections to the affected systems. The specific nature of the flaw suggests that the DNP3 protocol implementation lacks proper bounds checking and input validation for received serial data packets, allowing malformed or specially crafted sequences to trigger the problematic execution path.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to industrial control environments where continuous system availability is critical for safety and operational integrity. The denial of service condition can result in complete communication failures between master and outstation devices, potentially leading to cascading failures in control systems that depend on DNP3 protocols for data exchange. The infinite loop behavior means that once exploited, the affected processes will consume excessive CPU resources and may require manual intervention or system reboot to restore normal operation. This vulnerability particularly affects environments using COPA-DATA zenon software for industrial automation, where the DNP3 protocol is commonly employed for communication between various industrial devices and control systems. The physical proximity requirement limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the threat, as industrial facilities often have limited physical security controls, and authorized personnel may be compromised.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.002, which involves network denial of service attacks through protocol manipulation. Industrial control systems are particularly vulnerable to such attacks because they often lack the sophisticated security measures found in traditional IT environments, and the operational impact of service disruptions can be severe. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates from COPA-DATA, network segmentation to limit physical access to affected devices, and monitoring for unusual serial communication patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices in industrial software development, particularly regarding input validation and error handling in protocol implementations. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and physical security measures around industrial communication equipment can help prevent exploitation of this class of vulnerability. Organizations should also consider conducting security assessments to identify other potentially vulnerable industrial communication components that may share similar implementation flaws.