CVE-2022-3166 in MicroLogix 1100
Summary
by MITRE • 12/16/2022
Rockwell Automation was made aware that the webservers of the Micrologix 1100 and 1400 controllers contain a vulnerability that may lead to a denial-of-service condition. The security vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker with network access to the affected systems by sending TCP packets to webserver and closing it abruptly which would cause a denial-of-service condition for the web server application on the device
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3166 affects Rockwell Automation Micrologix 1100 and 1400 controllers, specifically targeting their embedded webserver implementations. This weakness represents a critical security flaw that undermines the availability of industrial control systems by enabling unauthorized users to disrupt normal operations through network-based attacks. The affected devices operate within industrial environments where continuous operation is essential for process control and manufacturing automation, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for operational technology infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests in the webserver component's handling of TCP connections, where improper connection management allows attackers to trigger a denial-of-service condition by establishing connections and then abruptly terminating them. This specific exploitation technique leverages the fundamental TCP protocol behavior to overwhelm the webserver's connection handling mechanisms, causing the service to become unresponsive or crash entirely. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and connection state management within the embedded webserver implementation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to disrupt critical industrial processes.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to industrial environments where Micrologix controllers serve as essential components in process automation and control systems. The denial-of-service condition affects not only the web interface but potentially impacts the overall controller functionality, as many industrial controllers integrate web-based management interfaces with core control operations. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability and reliability of industrial control systems, potentially leading to production downtime, process disruptions, and increased maintenance costs. The attack vector requires only network access to the affected systems, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical security boundaries may be compromised.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses improper handling of input that can lead to resource exhaustion and denial-of-service conditions. This weakness falls under the broader category of resource management flaws that affect embedded systems and industrial control environments. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1499.004, which covers network denial-of-service attacks, and T1566.001, representing spearphishing through social engineering. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate critical industrial control systems from general network access, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious TCP connection patterns, and establish robust patch management procedures to address this vulnerability promptly. Additionally, network access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of these controllers to unauthorized network access, while regular monitoring of controller webserver functionality should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts.