CVE-2026-22904 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified in the WAGO 0852-1322 device, a product commonly used in industrial automation and control environments. The root cause is improper length handling when parsing multiple HTTP cookie fields, including the TRACKID cookie. An attacker can exploit this by sending specially crafted oversized cookie values to the device's web interface, which does not properly validate or limit the length of these inputs. This leads to a stack buffer overflow (CWE-121), which can cause a denial-of-service (DoS) condition by crashing the device or, more critically, enable remote code execution (RCE). The vulnerability is exploitable remotely without any authentication or user interaction, making it highly dangerous. The CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8 reflects the ease of exploitation (network vector, no privileges required) and the severe impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no public exploits are currently known, the critical nature of this vulnerability demands urgent attention. The lack of available patches suggests that organizations must rely on network-level mitigations and monitoring until a vendor fix is released. Given the device’s role in industrial control systems, exploitation could disrupt critical infrastructure operations or allow attackers to gain persistent footholds in operational technology (OT) environments.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2026-22904 is substantial, particularly for those operating in industrial sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and utilities where WAGO 0852-1322 devices are deployed. Successful exploitation could lead to complete device compromise, enabling attackers to disrupt industrial processes, cause physical damage, or exfiltrate sensitive operational data. The resulting denial-of-service could halt production lines or critical infrastructure services, leading to financial losses and safety risks. The potential for remote code execution without authentication increases the threat level, as attackers can gain control over devices from anywhere on the network or potentially from the internet if devices are exposed. This vulnerability also raises compliance and regulatory concerns under frameworks like NIS2 and GDPR, as operational disruptions and data breaches could result in legal penalties. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the critical severity score indicates that threat actors may prioritize developing exploits soon.

1. Immediately isolate WAGO 0852-1322 devices from direct internet exposure and restrict access to trusted internal networks only. 2. Implement strict network segmentation between IT and OT environments to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 3. Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or intrusion prevention systems (IPS) capable of detecting and blocking oversized or malformed HTTP cookie fields. 4. Monitor network traffic for unusual cookie sizes or repeated malformed requests targeting the device’s web interface. 5. Enforce strict input validation and filtering at network gateways where possible. 6. Engage with WAGO for official patches or firmware updates and apply them promptly once available. 7. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments on industrial control systems to identify and remediate similar issues. 8. Develop and test incident response plans specifically addressing OT device compromise scenarios. 9. Educate operational staff about the risks and signs of exploitation attempts. 10. Consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions tailored for OT environments to detect anomalous device behavior.