CVE-2023-3272 in ICR890-4
Summary
by MITRE • 07/10/2023
Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information in the SICK ICR890-4 could allow a remote attacker to gather sensitive information by intercepting network traffic that is not encrypted.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2026
The CVE-2023-3272 vulnerability affects the SICK ICR890-4 industrial imaging device, representing a critical flaw in network security implementation that exposes sensitive operational data to remote interception. This device, commonly deployed in industrial environments for barcode reading and identification tasks, fails to implement proper encryption for data transmission, creating an attack surface that adversaries can exploit to capture confidential information. The vulnerability specifically resides in the device's communication protocols where sensitive data flows in cleartext over network channels, making it susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks and passive network monitoring. Industrial control systems and automated manufacturing environments that rely on such devices for critical operations face significant risk when this vulnerability remains unaddressed, as intercepted data could reveal operational parameters, security credentials, or proprietary process information.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the device's failure to utilize secure communication protocols such as TLS or SSL for encrypting data transmission between the ICR890-4 device and networked systems. This cleartext transmission exposes various types of sensitive information including but not limited to user authentication credentials, device configuration parameters, operational status data, and potentially proprietary manufacturing or process control information. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-319, which specifically addresses the transmission of sensitive information using insecure channels, and represents a direct violation of secure communication best practices in industrial environments. Network traffic analysis tools can easily capture and decode the transmitted data without requiring advanced cryptographic attacks or specialized equipment, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where network monitoring is common or accessible to unauthorized parties.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-3272 extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially compromise entire industrial control systems and operational security. Attackers who intercept the cleartext communications can gain insights into production processes, device configurations, and security settings that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. This vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to perform reconnaissance activities that could lead to privilege escalation, device compromise, or disruption of critical industrial operations. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where the ICR890-4 devices are connected to enterprise networks or where they communicate with other industrial devices that may be vulnerable to cascading attacks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1046 (Network Service Scanning) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) as attackers can use the intercepted information to plan more targeted attacks against the broader industrial ecosystem.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including network segmentation to isolate affected devices from critical systems, deployment of network monitoring tools to detect unusual traffic patterns, and enforcement of secure communication protocols where possible. The most effective long-term solution involves firmware updates from SICK that implement proper encryption for all network communications, though vendors should be consulted for specific patch availability and implementation guidance. Network administrators should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on cleartext transmission patterns, and implement mandatory encryption policies for all industrial network communications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure-by-design principles in industrial environments and underscores the need for comprehensive network security assessments that consider both traditional IT security controls and industrial-specific security requirements. Regular vulnerability assessments and security audits should be conducted to ensure that industrial devices maintain appropriate security postures against evolving threats.