CVE-2025-49196 identifies a vulnerability in SICK AG's product, SICK Field Analytics, where the service supports the use of a deprecated and unsafe version of the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol. TLS is critical for securing communications by encrypting data in transit between devices and services. The use of an outdated TLS version introduces cryptographic weaknesses classified under CWE-327 (Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm). This vulnerability allows attackers to potentially intercept sensitive information, modify data in transit, or spoof identities of users or devices by exploiting weaknesses in the cryptographic protocol. Specifically, the vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity of data, as attackers could decrypt or alter communications. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.5 (medium severity), with the vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), low integrity impact (I:L), and no availability impact (A:N). All versions of SICK Field Analytics are affected, and no patches are currently available. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time. The vulnerability arises from the continued support of deprecated TLS versions, which are known to have cryptographic flaws such as weak cipher suites, susceptibility to downgrade attacks, or known protocol vulnerabilities (e.g., TLS 1.0 or 1.1). This undermines the security guarantees expected from encrypted communications, potentially exposing industrial analytics data or control commands to interception or tampering.

For European organizations using SICK Field Analytics, especially those in industrial automation, manufacturing, and process control sectors, this vulnerability could lead to exposure of sensitive operational data or manipulation of analytics results. Confidentiality breaches could reveal proprietary process information or personal data if integrated with other systems. Integrity compromises could result in incorrect analytics outputs, leading to misguided operational decisions or safety risks. Although availability is not directly impacted, the trustworthiness of the analytics platform is undermined, potentially causing operational disruptions or regulatory non-compliance. Given SICK AG's strong presence in European industrial markets, organizations relying on this product may face increased risk of targeted attacks aiming to exploit cryptographic weaknesses. This is particularly critical for sectors with stringent data protection requirements under GDPR and industries where data integrity is crucial for safety and compliance. The medium severity rating suggests a moderate but non-trivial risk, especially if attackers can perform man-in-the-middle attacks or network interception within the operational environment.

Organizations should immediately assess their deployment of SICK Field Analytics to identify if deprecated TLS versions are enabled. Network-level controls such as enforcing TLS 1.2 or higher via firewall or proxy configurations can mitigate exposure. Where possible, disable support for legacy TLS protocols on the affected devices or intermediary network equipment. Employ network segmentation to isolate analytics devices from untrusted networks, reducing the attack surface. Monitor network traffic for signs of downgrade or interception attacks. Since no patches are currently available, coordinate with SICK AG for updates or advisories. Implement strict certificate validation and consider deploying additional encryption layers or VPN tunnels to protect communications. Regularly audit cryptographic configurations and update cryptographic libraries in the environment. Finally, incorporate this vulnerability into risk assessments and incident response plans to ensure rapid detection and mitigation if exploitation attempts occur.