CVE-2021-20586 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in a robot controller of MELFA FR Series, MELFA CR Series, and cooperative robot ASSISTA allows a remote attacker to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) by overwhelming the system with a high volume of packets. This could lead to errors requiring a system reset.

Understanding CVE-2021-20586

This section provides detailed insights into the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies related to CVE-2021-20586.

What is CVE-2021-20586?

The vulnerability in the affected robot controllers can be exploited by an unauthenticated attacker to disrupt the robot program execution and Ethernet communication, causing a DoS condition. This requires the system to be reset if an error occurs.

The Impact of CVE-2021-20586

The vulnerability poses a risk of disrupting operations and communication, potentially leading to downtime and the need for manual intervention to recover the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-20586

Below are specific technical details associated with CVE-2021-20586.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from resource management errors in the robot controllers, allowing an attacker to launch a DoS attack through network communication.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects various versions of robot controllers including Controller "CR800-VD", Controller "CR800-*HD", Controller "CR800-*HRD", Controller "CR800-VR with R16RTCPU", Controller "CR800-*HR with R16RTCPU", Controller "CR800-*HRR with R16RTCPU", Controller "CR800-VQ with Q172DSRCPU", Controller "CR800-*HQ with Q172DSRCPU", Controller "CR800-*HRQ with Q172DSRCPU", Controller "CR800-CVD", Controller "CR800-CHD", and Controller "CR800-05VD".

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by sending a large number of packets in burst over a short period, overwhelming the system and causing a DoS condition.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2021-20586, the following mitigation strategies are recommended.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is crucial to monitor network traffic, apply filters to prevent packet flooding, and restrict access to vulnerable controllers to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regular security assessments, network monitoring, and timely software updates are essential for maintaining a secure environment.

Patching and Updates

Stay updated with security bulletins from Mitsubishi Electric and promptly apply patches to address known vulnerabilities and strengthen the security posture of the robot controllers.