CVE-2022-3079 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in the FESTO control block CPX-CEC-C1 (product number 567347) and CPX-CMXX devices. These devices are industrial control components used in automation systems. The vulnerability stems from improper privilege management (CWE-269), allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to access critical webpage functions without any authentication or user interaction. This unauthorized access can lead to denial of service (DoS) conditions by disrupting the normal operation of the control blocks. The vulnerability affects multiple versions, including version 0.0.1, and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5, indicating a high level of risk. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts availability (A:H) without affecting confidentiality or integrity. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been published yet. The root cause is the lack of proper access control on the web interface of these devices, which are critical components in industrial automation environments. Exploiting this vulnerability could allow attackers to disrupt industrial processes by causing device unavailability, potentially leading to operational downtime and safety risks.

For European organizations, particularly those in manufacturing, industrial automation, and critical infrastructure sectors, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. FESTO products are widely used in European industrial environments, including automotive, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and energy sectors. A denial of service on these control blocks could halt production lines, cause safety system failures, or disrupt supply chains. The availability impact could lead to financial losses due to downtime, damage to equipment, and potential safety hazards for personnel. Since the vulnerability requires no authentication and can be exploited remotely, attackers could leverage it from outside the network if the devices are exposed or insufficiently segmented. This elevates the risk for organizations with remote access to industrial control systems or those lacking robust network segmentation and monitoring. Additionally, disruption in critical infrastructure could have cascading effects on other sectors and public services in Europe.

Organizations should immediately assess their exposure to FESTO CPX-CEC-C1 and CPX-CMXX devices, identifying all affected versions in their environment. Since no patches are currently available, mitigation should focus on network-level controls: isolate these devices within secure network segments with strict access controls, ensuring they are not directly accessible from untrusted networks or the internet. Implement firewall rules to restrict access to the device web interfaces to authorized personnel only. Employ network monitoring and intrusion detection systems to detect anomalous access attempts. Where possible, disable or restrict web interface access if not required for daily operations. Engage with FESTO support channels to obtain information on upcoming patches or firmware updates and plan for timely deployment once available. Additionally, review and enhance overall industrial control system security practices, including multi-factor authentication for management interfaces, even if not currently enforced by the device, and regular security audits of industrial networks.