CVE-2020-2075 in Bulkscan LMS111
Summary
by MITRE
Platform mechanism AutoIP allows remote attackers to reboot the device via a crafted packet in SICK AG solutions Bulkscan LMS111, Bulkscan LMS511, CLV62x – CLV65x, ICR890-3, LMS10x, LMS11x, LMS15x, LMS12x, LMS13x, LMS14x, LMS5xx, LMS53x, MSC800, RFH.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-2075 affects SICK AG industrial laser scanning devices including models such as Bulkscan LMS111, LMS511, CLV62x, CLV65x, ICR890-3, and various LMS and MSC series devices. This weakness resides within the platform mechanism AutoIP which is designed to automatically assign ip addresses to network devices in industrial environments. The flaw represents a critical security oversight that allows remote attackers to perform unauthorized device reboots through the manipulation of network packets, fundamentally compromising the availability and operational integrity of these critical industrial systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of incoming packets within the AutoIP mechanism. When devices receive specially crafted network packets, the AutoIP implementation fails to properly authenticate or validate the packet source, allowing malicious actors to inject commands that trigger device reboots. This vulnerability specifically impacts industrial control systems where continuous operation is essential, making the ability to remotely reboot devices a severe operational risk. The flaw falls under CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and more specifically relates to improper privilege management in network services. The AutoIP protocol typically operates without requiring authentication, creating an attack surface where any network-connected device can potentially exploit this weakness.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple device disruption to potentially compromise entire industrial processes. In manufacturing environments, production lines, automated systems, and safety-critical applications may experience unplanned downtime when affected devices reboot unexpectedly. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this weakness from external networks without requiring physical access or local network credentials, making it particularly dangerous for industrial environments where security perimeters may be less strictly enforced. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability component of the CIA triad and can be mapped to attack techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1499 category for network denial of service attacks.
Organizations should immediately implement network segmentation to isolate affected industrial devices from general network access, particularly ensuring that AutoIP mechanisms are not accessible from untrusted networks. Network administrators should consider disabling AutoIP functionality where possible and implement strict packet filtering rules to prevent unauthorized packet injection. Device firmware updates from SICK AG should be applied immediately upon availability, as these updates typically include patching the AutoIP validation mechanisms. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in industrial control systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of securing industrial protocols and highlights the need for robust network access controls in operational technology environments where device availability is paramount for business continuity.