CVE-2026-22917 identifies a resource allocation vulnerability (CWE-770) in the SICK AG TDC-X401GL, an industrial sensor or automation device widely used in manufacturing and process control. The vulnerability arises from improper input validation at a system endpoint, which allows an attacker with low-level privileges to send crafted requests that cause the device to allocate resources without any limits or throttling mechanisms. This uncontrolled resource consumption can lead to exhaustion of memory, CPU, or other critical resources, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition where the device becomes unresponsive or crashes. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring user interaction, increasing its risk profile. However, exploitation requires at least low privileges (PR:L), which means an attacker must have some level of authenticated access or be able to interact with the device’s management interface. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.3 (medium severity) reflects the limited impact to availability only, with no confidentiality or integrity compromise. No public exploits or patches are currently available, indicating that the vulnerability is newly disclosed and may require vendor action to remediate. The TDC-X401GL is typically deployed in industrial environments, making availability critical for operational continuity. The CWE-770 classification highlights the root cause as lack of resource allocation controls, a common issue in embedded and industrial control systems where resource exhaustion can disrupt critical processes.

For European organizations, particularly those in manufacturing, logistics, and industrial automation sectors, this vulnerability poses a risk of operational disruption due to denial of service on affected devices. The TDC-X401GL’s role in process monitoring or control means that unavailability can halt production lines, delay shipments, or cause safety monitoring failures. While confidentiality and integrity are not directly impacted, the loss of availability can have cascading effects on business continuity and safety compliance. Organizations relying on SICK AG devices without proper network segmentation or access controls may be more vulnerable to exploitation. The lack of patches increases the window of exposure, potentially inviting targeted attacks or accidental resource exhaustion. Given the critical nature of industrial environments in Europe, even medium severity DoS vulnerabilities can have significant financial and reputational consequences.

1. Implement strict network segmentation to isolate TDC-X401GL devices from general IT networks and limit access to trusted management hosts only. 2. Enforce strong authentication and authorization controls to prevent unauthorized or low-privilege users from accessing device endpoints. 3. Monitor device resource usage and network traffic for anomalies indicative of resource exhaustion attempts, enabling early detection and response. 4. Apply rate limiting or traffic shaping at network boundaries to prevent excessive requests targeting the vulnerable endpoint. 5. Engage with SICK AG for timely patch releases or firmware updates addressing this vulnerability and plan prompt deployment once available. 6. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on industrial control systems to identify similar resource allocation issues. 7. Maintain incident response plans that include procedures for isolating affected devices to minimize operational impact during an attack.