CVE-2022-24117 in MDS iNET
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2022
Certain General Electric Renewable Energy products download firmware without an integrity check. This affects iNET and iNET II before 8.3.0, SD before 6.4.7, TD220X before 2.0.16, and TD220MAX before 1.2.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2026
This vulnerability in General Electric Renewable Energy products represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of firmware update processes across multiple device families. The issue stems from the absence of cryptographic integrity checks during firmware downloads, creating a pathway for malicious actors to compromise device firmware installations. The affected products include iNET and iNET II systems prior to version 8.3.0, SD devices before version 6.4.7, TD220X units before 2.0.16, and TD220MAX devices before 1.2.6, indicating a widespread vulnerability affecting industrial control systems within renewable energy infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-353, which specifically addresses the lack of integrity checks in software updates, and represents a fundamental failure in secure update mechanisms that directly impacts operational technology environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks during firmware updates, allowing them to replace legitimate firmware with malicious code without detection. This weakness creates a persistent backdoor opportunity for adversaries to compromise industrial control systems, potentially leading to complete system takeover or denial of service conditions. The absence of integrity verification means that any firmware downloaded to these devices can be modified in transit or during the installation process without the system detecting the tampering. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1547.001, which covers registry run keys and startup folder, as compromised firmware could establish persistent access points within the industrial control environment. The impact is particularly severe in renewable energy contexts where these devices control critical power generation and distribution systems.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple security compromise to threaten the reliability and safety of renewable energy installations. Compromised devices could lead to unauthorized control of power generation systems, potentially causing cascading failures throughout energy grids or creating safety hazards for personnel. Industrial control systems that rely on these GE products for monitoring and control functions face significant risk of operational disruption, as attackers could manipulate firmware to alter system behavior or disable critical safety mechanisms. The vulnerability affects devices that are likely to be deployed in remote locations with limited physical security, making them particularly susceptible to remote exploitation. Organizations must consider the broader implications for their industrial cybersecurity posture, as this vulnerability demonstrates inadequate security controls in critical infrastructure components that are essential for modern energy systems.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate firmware updates to patched versions where available, as these releases would implement proper integrity checking mechanisms. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous firmware update activities, while access controls to update systems should be strictly enforced. Organizations should implement network-based integrity verification mechanisms and consider deploying intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor for suspicious update patterns. Regular security assessments of industrial control systems should include verification of update integrity mechanisms, and incident response procedures should be updated to address potential firmware compromise scenarios. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of secure update mechanisms in industrial environments, particularly those operating in critical infrastructure sectors where the consequences of system compromise can be severe.