CVE-2024-8878 identifies a critical security vulnerability in the Riello Netman 204 device, specifically in its password recovery mechanism for forgotten passwords. The weakness is categorized under CWE-640, which relates to weak password recovery mechanisms that can be exploited to bypass authentication controls. In this case, an attacker can remotely reset the administrator password without any authentication or user interaction, gaining full control over the device. The affected versions include all firmware up to 4.05. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 score of 10.0, reflecting a network attack vector (AV:N), no required privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and complete compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability (VC:H, VI:H, VA:H). This means the attacker can fully control the device remotely, potentially altering configurations, disrupting operations, or using the device as a foothold for further network intrusion. Riello Netman 204 is typically used in industrial control systems and infrastructure monitoring, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in operational technology environments. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the ease of exploitation and impact severity make it a critical threat. The lack of an available patch at the time of disclosure increases the urgency for interim mitigations. The vulnerability was assigned and published by CyberDanube on 2024-09-24.

The impact of CVE-2024-8878 on European organizations can be severe, especially for those relying on Riello Netman 204 devices in industrial control systems, energy management, or critical infrastructure monitoring. Successful exploitation allows attackers to gain administrative control over the device, leading to potential unauthorized changes in device configuration, disruption of monitoring and control functions, and possible lateral movement within the network. This could result in operational downtime, safety risks, data breaches, and loss of trust in critical infrastructure. Given the device’s role in managing power or industrial environments, the vulnerability could also facilitate sabotage or espionage activities. European organizations in sectors such as manufacturing, energy, utilities, and smart building management are particularly vulnerable. The critical severity and ease of exploitation increase the likelihood of targeted attacks or opportunistic exploitation, potentially impacting service availability and regulatory compliance under frameworks like NIS2 and GDPR if personal or operational data is compromised.

To mitigate CVE-2024-8878, European organizations should immediately assess their deployment of Riello Netman 204 devices and restrict network access to these devices using firewalls or network segmentation, limiting exposure to trusted management networks only. Disable or restrict the password recovery mechanism if the device configuration allows, to prevent unauthorized resets. Monitor device logs and network traffic for unusual access attempts or configuration changes. Implement strong network-level authentication and encryption where possible to reduce attack surface. Engage with Riello support to obtain and apply firmware updates or patches as soon as they become available. If patches are delayed, consider deploying compensating controls such as VPN access for device management or isolating the devices from the internet and untrusted networks. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focused on operational technology environments to detect similar weaknesses. Train staff on the risks associated with device management interfaces and enforce strict access controls. Maintain an incident response plan tailored to industrial control system compromises.