CVE-2026-27871 in TL280
Summary
by MITRE • 08/14/2026
Cwe-327 Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm vulnerability in Johnson Controls TL280 allows Cryptanalytic Attack.
This issue affects TL280: before 5.63.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2026
The vulnerability classified as cwe-327 represents a critical weakness in cryptographic implementation that directly impacts the security posture of Johnson Controls TL280 systems. This weakness stems from the utilization of broken or risky cryptographic algorithms that have been compromised through cryptanalytic attacks, fundamentally undermining the confidentiality and integrity protections that cryptographic systems are designed to provide. The affected TL280 devices prior to version 5.63 demonstrate a failure in implementing robust encryption mechanisms, leaving them susceptible to various forms of cryptographic compromise.
The technical flaw manifests in the system's reliance on cryptographic algorithms that have been mathematically broken or weakened through advanced cryptanalytic techniques. These compromised algorithms may include deprecated encryption standards such as DES, RC4, or weak hash functions that have demonstrated vulnerabilities in academic and real-world attacks. The implementation likely employs these insecure cryptographic primitives for data protection, authentication, or key exchange processes within the device's communication protocols. Attackers exploiting this weakness can potentially decrypt sensitive communications, forge authentication tokens, or perform man-in-the-middle attacks against the affected systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass complete system compromise and unauthorized access capabilities. Organizations utilizing vulnerable TL280 devices face significant risks including unauthorized system access, data breaches, and potential disruption of critical building automation functions. The vulnerability creates attack vectors that align with several ATT&CK tactics including credential access through cryptographic attacks and initial access via compromised authentication mechanisms. This weakness particularly affects environments where the TL280 serves as a central component in building management systems, potentially providing attackers with persistent access to physical security controls and environmental monitoring capabilities.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate firmware updates to version 5.63 or later, which contain corrected cryptographic implementations that address the identified weaknesses. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all affected devices and implement network segmentation to limit potential attack surfaces. The remediation process should include replacement of any hard-coded cryptographic keys and implementation of updated security protocols that adhere to current industry standards such as those specified in NIST SP 800-57 for cryptographic key management. Additional controls should involve monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems specifically configured to identify potential cryptographic attack attempts against the previously vulnerable systems.