CVE-2021-47663 is a vulnerability identified in the Franka Emika Robot produced by Franka Robotics. The core issue stems from an improper implementation of JSON Web Tokens (JWT) used for session management. Specifically, the vulnerability is categorized under CWE-613, which relates to insufficient session expiration. This means that session tokens do not expire or are not invalidated appropriately, allowing an attacker to guess or predict a valid session ID remotely without authentication. Once a valid session ID is obtained, the attacker can impersonate a legitimate user and gain full access to the robot's control interface and functionalities. This could allow unauthorized commands to be issued to the robot, potentially disrupting operations or causing physical harm. The affected version is listed as 0.0.0, which likely indicates an early or initial firmware/software version of the Franka Emika Robot. No patches or fixes have been published yet, and there are no known exploits in the wild at this time. The vulnerability was reserved and published in early 2025, with CERTVDE as the assigner, and is enriched by CISA data. The lack of session expiration combined with the ability to guess session tokens remotely and without authentication makes this a significant security flaw in the robot's authentication mechanism.

For European organizations utilizing Franka Emika Robots, this vulnerability poses a medium to high risk depending on the deployment context. Industrial and manufacturing sectors that rely on these robots for automation could face operational disruptions if an attacker gains control. Unauthorized access could lead to manipulation of robotic movements, causing production downtime, damage to equipment, or safety hazards to personnel. Additionally, if these robots are integrated into larger industrial control systems or connected to corporate networks, the attacker could use this foothold to pivot and escalate attacks, potentially compromising sensitive data or other critical infrastructure. The confidentiality of operational data and intellectual property could be at risk if attackers access logs or control interfaces. The integrity of robotic operations is directly threatened, and availability could be impacted if robots are disabled or misused. Given the lack of authentication requirements and the ability to guess session tokens remotely, the attack surface is broad, increasing the likelihood of exploitation in environments where network access is not tightly controlled.

1. Network Segmentation: Isolate Franka Emika Robots on dedicated, secure network segments with strict access controls to limit exposure to untrusted networks or users. 2. Implement VPN or Zero Trust Access: Require all remote or local access to the robot's control interfaces to go through authenticated and encrypted VPN or Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solutions. 3. Monitor and Log Access: Deploy continuous monitoring and logging of all access attempts to the robot, focusing on anomalous session token usage or repeated failed attempts to guess session IDs. 4. Enforce Short Session Lifetimes: Until a patch is available, configure any configurable session timeout settings to the shortest possible duration to reduce token validity windows. 5. Manual Session Revocation: If possible, implement manual session revocation procedures after each use or at regular intervals. 6. Firmware Updates: Engage with Franka Robotics for updates or patches addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 7. Physical Security: Ensure physical access to the robots is restricted to trusted personnel to prevent local exploitation. 8. Incident Response Planning: Prepare response plans specifically for robotic system compromise scenarios, including isolation and recovery procedures. These mitigations go beyond generic advice by focusing on network architecture, access controls, and operational procedures tailored to robotic systems.