CVE-2024-6089 in 5015-AENFTXT
Summary
by MITRE • 07/16/2024
An input validation vulnerability exists in the Rockwell Automation 5015 - AENFTXT when a manipulated PTP packet is sent, causing the secondary adapter to result in a major nonrecoverable fault. If exploited, a power cycle is required to recover the product.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-6089 represents a critical input validation flaw within Rockwell Automation's 5015 - AENFTXT device, specifically affecting the secondary adapter functionality. This issue manifests when malformed Precision Time Protocol (PTP) packets are transmitted to the system, triggering a cascade of failures that result in a major nonrecoverable fault condition. The device architecture employs PTP for precise time synchronization in industrial automation environments, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for critical infrastructure deployments where timing accuracy is paramount.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of incoming PTP packet structures within the secondary adapter's processing pipeline. When a maliciously crafted PTP packet is received, the system fails to properly validate packet headers, sequence numbers, or timestamp formats, allowing malformed data to propagate through the network interface. This lack of input sanitization creates a condition where the secondary adapter's state machine transitions into an unrecoverable error state, effectively rendering the device nonfunctional. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, "Improper Input Validation," which describes the failure to properly validate input data, leading to system instability and potential denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple device downtime, as the affected system requires a complete power cycle to restore normal operation. This recovery mechanism indicates that the fault condition has corrupted critical system state information or memory structures within the secondary adapter's firmware. Industrial control systems deployed in manufacturing environments, power grids, or process automation typically cannot tolerate extended outages, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous. The requirement for power cycling suggests that the device lacks proper error recovery mechanisms or graceful degradation protocols, which are essential for maintaining operational continuity in critical infrastructure environments.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability presents an attractive target for adversaries seeking to disrupt industrial operations through denial of service attacks. The attack vector requires minimal technical expertise to execute, as it only requires sending malformed PTP packets to the device, making it accessible to threat actors with basic network manipulation capabilities. The ATT&CK framework's T1499.004 sub-technique "Network Denial of Service" applies directly to this scenario, as the vulnerability enables an attacker to cause sustained disruption of industrial network services. Organizations implementing Rockwell Automation 5015 - AENFTXT devices should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader industrial control system security posture, particularly in environments where network resilience and operational continuity are critical requirements.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit PTP packet injection capabilities, alongside firmware updates from Rockwell Automation to address the input validation gaps. Network monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous PTP packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should implement redundant systems or failover mechanisms to maintain operational continuity when individual devices become unavailable due to this vulnerability. The implementation of intrusion detection systems specifically configured to monitor PTP traffic and identify malformed packets can provide early warning capabilities for potential exploitation attempts.