CVE-2021-22766 in PowerLogic EGX100
Summary
by MITRE • 06/11/2021
A CWE-20: Improper Input Validation vulnerability exists in PowerLogic EGX100 (Versions 3.0.0 and newer) and PowerLogic EGX300 (All Versions) that could cause denial of service via a specially crafted HTTP packet
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2021-22766 represents a critical security flaw in PowerLogic EGX100 and EGX300 industrial network devices that falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-20, which specifically addresses improper input validation. This vulnerability affects PowerLogic EGX100 devices running firmware versions 3.0.0 and newer, as well as all versions of PowerLogic EGX300 devices. The flaw manifests as a denial of service condition that can be triggered through the manipulation of HTTP packets, making it particularly concerning for industrial control systems where network availability is paramount. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of incoming HTTP requests, allowing malicious actors to craft specially designed packets that can disrupt normal device operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the device's failure to properly validate HTTP request parameters and headers before processing them. When a crafted HTTP packet is received, the device's web server component does not adequately sanitize the input data, leading to potential buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other processing errors that cause the device to become unresponsive or crash entirely. This improper input validation creates an attack surface where an unauthenticated remote threat actor can exploit the weakness by sending maliciously formatted HTTP requests that trigger the device's denial of service condition. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in industrial environments where these devices often operate as critical infrastructure components without redundant failover mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, the denial of service condition created by CVE-2021-22766 can have severe consequences for industrial environments that rely on PowerLogic EGX100 and EGX300 devices for power monitoring and management. These devices typically serve as essential components in electrical distribution systems, and their unavailability can lead to complete loss of power monitoring capabilities, potentially resulting in operational disruptions, safety hazards, and financial losses. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the devices, making it particularly dangerous in network-connected industrial environments where perimeter security may be insufficient. The lack of authentication requirements for triggering the vulnerability further compounds the risk, as any network-connected attacker can potentially exploit this weakness without requiring credentials or prior access to the system.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-22766 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term remediation approaches. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks, while also applying firmware updates from PowerLogic when available to address the input validation deficiencies. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous HTTP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and intrusion detection systems should be configured to alert on suspicious HTTP packet structures. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their industrial control systems to identify other potentially affected devices that may share similar input validation weaknesses. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers exploitation of remote services, and represents a classic example of how inadequate input validation can create denial of service conditions in industrial network equipment.