CVE-2025-48019 Overview
A denial of service vulnerability has been discovered in the Vnet/IP Interface Package provided by Yokogawa Electric Corporation. When the affected product receives maliciously crafted network packets, the Vnet/IP software stack process may be terminated unexpectedly, causing a disruption in industrial control system operations.
This vulnerability (CWE-617: Reachable Assertion) occurs when the software reaches an assertion that can be triggered by an attacker, leading to process termination. In industrial control system environments like those using CENTUM VP, service disruptions can have significant operational and safety implications.
Critical Impact
Attackers on an adjacent network can send maliciously crafted packets to terminate the Vnet/IP software stack process, disrupting industrial control system communications and operations.
Affected Products
- Vnet/IP Interface Package for CENTUM VP R6 (VP6C3300) - R1.07.00 or earlier
- Vnet/IP Interface Package for CENTUM VP R7 (VP7C3300) - R1.07.00 or earlier
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-02-13 - CVE-2025-48019 published to NVD
- 2026-02-13 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-48019
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability affects the Vnet/IP Interface Package, a critical component used for network communications in Yokogawa's CENTUM VP distributed control system (DCS) platforms. The CENTUM VP system is widely deployed in industrial environments including oil refineries, chemical plants, power generation facilities, and manufacturing operations.
The vulnerability is classified under CWE-617 (Reachable Assertion), which indicates that the software contains an assertion that can be reached by an attacker-controlled input. When triggered, the assertion causes the Vnet/IP software stack process to terminate abnormally. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in industrial control system environments where availability and continuous operation are paramount.
The attack requires adjacent network access, meaning the attacker must be on the same network segment as the vulnerable device. While this limits remote exploitation, it does not eliminate the risk, especially in environments where network segmentation may be inadequate or where insider threats exist.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is a reachable assertion (CWE-617) within the Vnet/IP software stack. The software contains an assertion statement that can be triggered when processing maliciously crafted network packets. When the assertion condition is met through specially crafted input, the software terminates the process rather than handling the error condition gracefully. This design flaw allows an attacker to cause a denial of service by sending packets that trigger the assertion.
Attack Vector
The attack vector requires adjacent network access to the target system. An attacker positioned on the same network segment as the Yokogawa CENTUM VP system can send specially crafted packets to the Vnet/IP Interface Package. These malicious packets are designed to trigger the reachable assertion in the software stack, causing the process to terminate.
The attack does not require authentication or user interaction, making it relatively straightforward to execute once network access is obtained. The vulnerability primarily affects availability, with no direct impact on confidentiality or integrity of the system.
The vulnerability mechanism involves sending malformed network packets that cause the Vnet/IP software stack to reach an assertion condition. When the assertion is triggered, the process terminates unexpectedly. For detailed technical information, refer to the Yokogawa Security Advisory YSAR-26-0002.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-48019
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected termination or restart of the Vnet/IP software stack process
- Network traffic anomalies on Vnet/IP communication segments showing malformed packets
- System logs indicating assertion failures or abnormal process exits in the CENTUM VP system
- Repeated service interruptions in industrial control communications
Detection Strategies
- Deploy network intrusion detection systems (IDS) configured to monitor Vnet/IP protocol traffic for malformed packets
- Implement logging and alerting for Vnet/IP process crashes or unexpected restarts
- Monitor CENTUM VP system health metrics for availability anomalies
- Configure SIEM rules to correlate network traffic patterns with process termination events
Monitoring Recommendations
- Establish baseline metrics for normal Vnet/IP process behavior and alert on deviations
- Monitor network segments connected to CENTUM VP systems for unauthorized devices or traffic
- Implement continuous availability monitoring for critical industrial control system components
- Review logs from network security devices for potential reconnaissance or exploitation attempts
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-48019
Immediate Actions Required
- Review the Yokogawa Security Advisory YSAR-26-0002 for vendor-recommended countermeasures
- Verify network segmentation to limit adjacent network access to affected systems
- Implement strict access controls on network segments containing CENTUM VP systems
- Enable enhanced logging and monitoring for affected Vnet/IP Interface Package installations
Patch Information
Yokogawa Electric Corporation has published security advisory YSAR-26-0002 addressing this vulnerability. Organizations running affected versions of the Vnet/IP Interface Package (version R1.07.00 or earlier) for CENTUM VP R6 (VP6C3300) or CENTUM VP R7 (VP7C3300) should contact Yokogawa for updated software and specific remediation guidance. Review the official security advisory at the Yokogawa Security Advisory for patch availability and installation instructions.
Workarounds
- Implement network segmentation to isolate CENTUM VP systems from untrusted network segments
- Deploy firewalls or access control lists to restrict which devices can communicate with the Vnet/IP Interface Package
- Monitor and audit all devices with access to the adjacent network segment
- Consider implementing additional intrusion prevention systems to filter malicious traffic
# Example: Configure firewall rules to restrict access to Vnet/IP systems
# Limit access to only authorized management stations
# Replace IP addresses with your actual network configuration
# Allow traffic from authorized management station
iptables -A INPUT -s 192.168.1.100 -d 192.168.1.50 -j ACCEPT
# Drop traffic from all other adjacent network sources
iptables -A INPUT -d 192.168.1.50 -j DROP
# Log dropped packets for monitoring
iptables -A INPUT -d 192.168.1.50 -j LOG --log-prefix "VNETIP-BLOCKED: "
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
