CVE-2021-27438
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2021-27438 is a hard-coded password vulnerability in Reason DR60 devices that allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms. This affects all Reason DR60 firmware versions prior to 02A04.1, potentially compromising industrial control systems.
💻 Affected Systems
- Reason DR60
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete device takeover leading to industrial process manipulation, data exfiltration, or disruption of critical infrastructure operations.
Likely Case
Unauthorized access to device configuration, potential lateral movement within industrial networks, and data leakage.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if devices are isolated behind firewalls with strict network segmentation and access controls.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires only knowledge of the hard-coded password, which is publicly documented in advisories.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 02A04.1
Vendor Advisory: https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-21-082-03
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download firmware version 02A04.1 from vendor portal. 2. Backup current configuration. 3. Upload and install new firmware via web interface. 4. Verify successful update and restore configuration if needed.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Network Segmentation
allIsolate Reason DR60 devices in dedicated VLANs with strict firewall rules limiting inbound/outbound communication.
Access Control Lists
allImplement IP-based access restrictions to only allow connections from authorized management stations.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network segmentation to isolate vulnerable devices from untrusted networks
- Monitor authentication logs for unauthorized access attempts and implement alerting
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check firmware version via web interface or SSH: version should be displayed in device information page.Check Version:
ssh admin@device_ip 'show version' or check web interface System Information pageVerify Fix Applied:
Verify firmware version is 02A04.1 or later in device settings and test authentication with old credentials fails.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Failed authentication attempts followed by successful login
- Multiple login attempts from unusual IP addresses
- Configuration changes from unauthorized users
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections from DR60 devices
- Traffic patterns inconsistent with normal industrial protocols
SIEM Query:
source="DR60" AND (event_type="authentication" AND result="success") | stats count by src_ip