CVE-2025-62578 is a vulnerability identified in the Delta Electronics DVP-12SE programmable logic controller, specifically related to the Modbus/TCP protocol implementation. The issue stems from the device transmitting sensitive information in cleartext over the network, violating secure communication best practices and corresponding to CWE-319 (Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information). Modbus/TCP is widely used in industrial control systems (ICS) for communication between controllers and field devices. The lack of encryption or integrity protection means that an attacker with network access—typically within the same local or adjacent network segment—can intercept and potentially manipulate sensitive operational data. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates the attack vector is adjacent network (AV:A), with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and high impact on confidentiality (VC:L), integrity (VI:H), and availability (VA:H). This suggests that an attacker can remotely eavesdrop and inject malicious commands or data, potentially disrupting industrial processes or causing unsafe conditions. No patches or mitigations have been officially released yet, and no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk to ICS environments relying on this hardware. The DVP-12SE is commonly deployed in manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure sectors, where secure and reliable operation is critical.

The vulnerability can lead to interception of sensitive operational data, including control commands and status information, compromising confidentiality. Attackers could also manipulate data or commands, impacting the integrity of industrial processes and potentially causing unsafe or damaging conditions. Availability may be affected if malicious commands disrupt normal operations or cause device malfunctions. For European organizations, especially those in critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and transportation, this vulnerability could lead to operational downtime, safety incidents, regulatory non-compliance, and financial losses. The lack of encryption in Modbus/TCP communications exposes these organizations to espionage, sabotage, or ransomware attacks that leverage ICS weaknesses. Given the increasing geopolitical tensions and targeted attacks against European industrial targets, this vulnerability represents a strategic risk that must be addressed promptly.

1. Immediately segment networks to isolate DVP-12SE devices from general IT networks and restrict Modbus/TCP traffic to trusted management and control systems only. 2. Deploy network-level encryption or VPN tunnels to protect Modbus/TCP traffic where possible, compensating for the device’s lack of native encryption. 3. Implement strict firewall rules and intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) tuned to detect anomalous Modbus traffic patterns or unauthorized access attempts. 4. Conduct regular network traffic monitoring and logging to identify suspicious activities targeting DVP-12SE devices. 5. Engage with Delta Electronics for firmware updates or patches addressing this vulnerability and plan for timely deployment once available. 6. Consider upgrading to devices or solutions that support secure communication protocols such as Modbus Secure or OPC UA with encryption and authentication. 7. Train operational technology (OT) personnel on the risks of cleartext protocols and best practices for ICS network security. 8. Develop and test incident response plans specific to ICS environments to quickly contain and remediate exploitation attempts.