CVE-2025-52545 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Copeland LP's E3 Supervisory Control firmware versions prior to 2.31F01. The vulnerability stems from an insufficiently protected credentials issue (CWE-522) within the RCI (Remote Control Interface) service of the E3 Site Supervisor Control system. Specifically, an API call exists that allows retrieval of all usernames and password hashes associated with the application services. This API does not adequately restrict access, requiring only low privileges and no user interaction, making it susceptible to remote exploitation over the network. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 7.7, reflecting its network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), partial privileges required (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (VC:H/VI:H/VA:H). The scope is limited to the vulnerable component (SI:L), and the attack requires low privileges and low scope change (SA:L). Although no known exploits are currently observed in the wild, the exposure of password hashes could enable attackers to perform offline cracking attacks, escalate privileges, and potentially compromise supervisory control systems. Given that supervisory control systems like E3 are often integral to industrial environments, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to operational technology (OT) environments, potentially leading to unauthorized control, data manipulation, or disruption of critical infrastructure operations.

For European organizations, especially those operating in industrial sectors such as manufacturing, energy, HVAC, and building management where Copeland LP's E3 Supervisory Control systems are deployed, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk. Exposure of password hashes can lead to credential compromise, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to supervisory control systems. This could result in manipulation or disruption of critical processes, impacting operational continuity, safety, and compliance with regulatory requirements such as NIS2. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that sensitive operational data could be leaked or altered, and system availability could be impaired, potentially causing downtime or unsafe conditions. Given the increasing integration of OT with IT networks in European industries, exploitation could also serve as a pivot point for broader network intrusions. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the ease of exploitation and high impact necessitate urgent attention.

1. Immediate firmware upgrade: Organizations should prioritize upgrading the E3 Supervisory Control firmware to version 2.31F01 or later, where this vulnerability is addressed. 2. Network segmentation: Isolate supervisory control systems from general IT networks and restrict access to the RCI service using firewalls and access control lists to limit exposure. 3. Implement strong authentication: Enforce multi-factor authentication and least privilege principles for any accounts with access to the supervisory control interfaces. 4. Monitor and audit: Deploy continuous monitoring and logging of access to the RCI service and related APIs to detect anomalous activities indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. Password hash protection: Where possible, enhance password storage mechanisms by using stronger hashing algorithms and salting, and consider rotating credentials post-patch. 6. Incident response readiness: Prepare and test incident response plans specific to OT environments to quickly contain and remediate any compromise. 7. Vendor engagement: Engage with Copeland LP for official patches, advisories, and support, and subscribe to threat intelligence feeds for updates on exploit developments.