CVE-2024-40619: ControlLogix 5580 Firmware DoS Vulnerability

CVE-2024-40619 Overview

CVE-2024-40619 is a denial-of-service vulnerability affecting Rockwell Automation ControlLogix 5580 and GuardLogix 5580 programmable automation controllers. An unauthenticated attacker can send a malformed Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) packet over the network to trigger a major nonrecoverable fault on the device. The fault halts controller operation and requires manual intervention to restore service. The flaw is tracked under [CWE-754: Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions]. Rockwell Automation published advisory SD1690 to document affected firmware and remediation guidance. The issue impacts industrial control systems used in manufacturing, energy, and critical infrastructure environments.

Critical Impact
A single malformed CIP packet can take a production controller offline, interrupting industrial processes and requiring manual recovery.

Affected Products

Rockwell Automation ControlLogix 5580 controllers running firmware version 34.011
Rockwell Automation GuardLogix 5580 controllers running firmware version 34.011
Associated controller firmware images distributed by Rockwell Automation

Discovery Timeline

2024-08-14 - CVE-2024-40619 published to NVD
2025-01-31 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-40619

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the CIP protocol handler used by ControlLogix 5580 and GuardLogix 5580 controllers. CIP is the application-layer protocol that carries EtherNet/IP traffic between engineering workstations, HMIs, and Logix controllers. When the controller receives a specifically malformed CIP packet, the firmware fails to validate an exceptional condition and transitions into a major nonrecoverable fault state. Once the controller enters this state, it stops executing the user logic program and ceases controlling its connected I/O. Recovery typically requires a power cycle and reload of the program from the engineering workstation.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper checking for unusual or exceptional conditions during CIP message parsing. The firmware does not adequately validate field values or structural integrity within the inbound packet before acting on the data. The unhandled exception propagates into the controller runtime, which responds with a fatal fault rather than discarding the malformed input.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires network reachability to the controller on the EtherNet/IP service ports, but no authentication and no user interaction. An attacker positioned on the OT network, or one who pivots through an exposed engineering workstation, can deliver the malformed CIP packet directly to the device. Because Logix controllers commonly trust any device on the local industrial network, network-layer access is the primary barrier to exploitation. No public proof-of-concept exploit has been published, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-40619

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected transitions of ControlLogix 5580 or GuardLogix 5580 controllers into a major nonrecoverable fault state
Loss of EtherNet/IP communication with affected controllers followed by HMI alarms
Inbound CIP traffic from non-engineering hosts or unexpected source addresses on TCP/UDP port 44818 or TCP port 2222

Detection Strategies

Deploy OT-aware intrusion detection that parses CIP and EtherNet/IP traffic and alerts on malformed or non-conformant packet structures.
Correlate controller fault events from the Logix controller diagnostic logs with network packet captures from the same time window.
Baseline normal CIP message types and source hosts per controller, and alert on deviations or new talkers.

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward controller diagnostic events and EtherNet/IP switch logs into a centralized SIEM or data lake for correlation with network telemetry.
Monitor for repeated controller restarts or fault transitions across multiple Logix devices, which can indicate scanning or active exploitation.
Track engineering workstations for unexpected outbound CIP traffic, since a compromised workstation is a likely delivery point.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-40619

Immediate Actions Required

Inventory all ControlLogix 5580 and GuardLogix 5580 controllers and identify devices running firmware 34.011 or earlier affected versions per Rockwell advisory SD1690.
Restrict CIP and EtherNet/IP access to controllers using firewall rules, allowing traffic only from authorized engineering workstations and HMIs.
Place affected controllers behind an industrial DMZ and block direct routing from IT networks to OT controller subnets.

Patch Information

Rockwell Automation has published remediation guidance and fixed firmware in Rockwell Automation Security Advisory SD1690. Asset owners should review the advisory for the specific fixed firmware versions and apply them through the standard Logix firmware update workflow during a planned maintenance window.

Workarounds

Apply CIP Security or controller-level access control lists to authenticate and limit which hosts can send CIP messages to the controller.
Segment OT networks with strict zone-and-conduit firewall policies aligned to IEC 62443, isolating controllers from general corporate traffic.
Disable or block EtherNet/IP traffic from any device that does not require it, including guest VLANs, contractor laptops, and untrusted wireless networks.

bash

# Example firewall rule restricting EtherNet/IP/CIP access to authorized engineering hosts only
# Replace addresses with your environment values
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp --dport 44818 -s 10.10.20.0/24 -d 10.20.30.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -p udp --dport 44818 -s 10.10.20.0/24 -d 10.20.30.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp --dport 2222  -s 10.10.20.0/24 -d 10.20.30.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp --dport 44818 -d 10.20.30.0/24 -j DROP
iptables -A FORWARD -p udp --dport 44818 -d 10.20.30.0/24 -j DROP
iptables -A FORWARD -p tcp --dport 2222  -d 10.20.30.0/24 -j DROP