CVE-2021-42017 in RUGGEDCOM ROS M2100
Summary
by MITRE • 03/08/2022
A vulnerability has been identified in RUGGEDCOM ROS M2100 (All versions < V5.6.0), RUGGEDCOM ROS RMC8388 devices (All versions < V5.6.0), RUGGEDCOM ROS RS416v2 (All versions < V5.6.0), RUGGEDCOM ROS RS900G (All versions < V5.6.0), RUGGEDCOM ROS RS900G (32M) (All versions < V5.6.0), RUGGEDCOM ROS RSG2100 (32M) V5.X (All versions < V5.6.0), RUGGEDCOM ROS RSG2100P (All versions < V5.6.0), RUGGEDCOM ROS RSG2100P (32M) V5.X (All versions < V5.6.0), RUGGEDCOM ROS RSG2288 V5.X (All versions < V5.6.0), RUGGEDCOM ROS RSG2300 V5.X (All versions < V5.6.0), RUGGEDCOM ROS RSG2300P V5.X (All versions < V5.6.0), RUGGEDCOM ROS RSG2488 V5.X (All versions < V5.6.0), RUGGEDCOM ROS RSG900 V5.X (All versions < V5.6.0), RUGGEDCOM ROS RSG920P V5.X (All versions < V5.6.0), RUGGEDCOM ROS RSL910 (All versions < V5.6.0), RUGGEDCOM ROS RST2228 (All versions < V5.6.0), RUGGEDCOM ROS RST916C (All versions < V5.6.0), RUGGEDCOM ROS RST916P (All versions < V5.6.0). A new variant of the POODLE attack has left a third-party component vulnerable due to the implementation flaws of the CBC encryption mode in TLS 1.0 to 1.2. If an attacker were to exploit this, they could act as a man-in-the-middle and eavesdrop on encrypted communications.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw affecting numerous ruggedized networking devices from RUGGEDCOM, specifically those running ROS (Rugged Operating System) versions prior to V5.6.0. The issue stems from a flawed implementation of the CBC (Cipher Block Chaining) encryption mode within the TLS protocol stack, making these devices susceptible to a sophisticated variant of the POODLE (Padding Oracle On Downgraded Legacy Encryption) attack. The vulnerability impacts a wide range of industrial networking equipment including routers, switches, and communication devices deployed in critical infrastructure environments, creating significant operational risks for organizations relying on these systems for secure communications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of TLS protocol versions and cipher suites, specifically targeting the insecure handling of CBC mode encryption in TLS 1.0 through 1.2 implementations. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform downgrade attacks, forcing vulnerable devices to negotiate weaker cryptographic protocols while simultaneously exploiting the predictable padding behavior in CBC mode. This creates opportunities for man-in-the-middle attacks where adversaries can intercept, modify, or steal encrypted communications flowing through these network devices. The vulnerability specifically affects the cryptographic implementation rather than the device's core functionality, making it particularly insidious as it operates at the protocol level where security is expected to be robust.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to potentially compromising entire network security postures within industrial environments. Organizations deploying these RUGGEDCOM devices in critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, transportation, and telecommunications face significant risks, as the compromised devices could serve as entry points for more extensive attacks. The vulnerability's presence in multiple device models across different product lines suggests a systemic issue in the software implementation rather than isolated component failures. This makes the remediation effort more complex and potentially disruptive to operations, particularly in environments where device replacement or firmware updates may require scheduled maintenance windows or field service interventions.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate mitigation efforts including firmware updates to version 5.6.0 or later, which address the underlying CBC implementation flaws and strengthen TLS protocol handling. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring measures to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish network segmentation strategies to limit the potential impact of successful attacks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-327 (Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm) and represents a specific implementation weakness that could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1046 (Network Service Scanning) when used as part of reconnaissance activities, or T1566 (Phishing) when combined with social engineering to exploit the compromised devices. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other network components that might be similarly vulnerable to TLS-based cryptographic weaknesses, particularly those using older or improperly configured cryptographic libraries.