CVE-2025-59460 is a vulnerability identified in the SICK AG TLOC100-100 industrial device series running firmware versions prior to 7.1.1. The root cause is the use of weak default credentials combined with configuration settings that do not align with current best practices for access control. This misconfiguration allows unauthorised remote attackers to establish connections to the device without requiring any authentication, user interaction, or privileges. The vulnerability primarily compromises confidentiality, as attackers can potentially access sensitive operational data or device information. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.5 reflects the network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), and no impact on integrity or availability (I:N/A:N). Although no exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of these devices in industrial automation and safety-critical environments. The lack of strong credential enforcement and secure default configurations increases the attack surface, making it easier for threat actors to gain unauthorised access. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on October 27, 2025, with no official patches linked yet, but firmware version 7.1.1 or later is indicated as remediating the issue. Organizations relying on these devices should prioritize updating firmware and revising access control policies to mitigate potential exploitation.

For European organizations, especially those in manufacturing, industrial automation, and critical infrastructure sectors, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to operational confidentiality. Unauthorized access could lead to exposure of sensitive process data, intellectual property, or safety system configurations. While the vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach could facilitate further attacks or industrial espionage. Given the critical role of SICK AG devices in European industrial environments, exploitation could undermine trust in automation systems and cause regulatory compliance issues related to data protection. The ease of exploitation without authentication or user interaction increases the likelihood of opportunistic attacks, potentially by cybercriminals or state-sponsored actors targeting European industrial assets. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high CVSS score underscores the urgency of addressing the vulnerability to prevent future incidents.

1. Immediately upgrade all SICK AG TLOC100-100 devices to firmware version 7.1.1 or later, which addresses the weak credential issue. 2. Conduct a thorough audit of device configurations to ensure default credentials are replaced with strong, unique passwords following organizational password policies. 3. Implement network segmentation to isolate industrial control devices from general IT networks and restrict access to trusted management stations only. 4. Deploy strict access control lists (ACLs) and firewall rules to limit inbound connections to the devices from authorized IP addresses. 5. Enable logging and monitoring on devices and network segments to detect unauthorized access attempts promptly. 6. Incorporate multi-factor authentication (MFA) where supported to add an additional layer of security. 7. Educate operational technology (OT) personnel about the risks of default credentials and the importance of secure configurations. 8. Establish a vulnerability management process to track firmware updates and security advisories from SICK AG and respond swiftly to new threats. 9. Consider deploying intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) tailored for industrial protocols to detect anomalous activity targeting these devices.