CVE-2025-48020 Overview
A vulnerability has been identified in the Vnet/IP Interface Package provided by Yokogawa Electric Corporation. When affected products receive maliciously crafted network packets, the Vnet/IP software stack process may be terminated, resulting in a denial of service condition. This vulnerability is classified as CWE-617 (Reachable Assertion), indicating that the software contains an assertion that can be triggered by an attacker.
Critical Impact
Industrial control system network interface component can be crashed remotely from an adjacent network, potentially disrupting critical process control operations in CENTUM VP distributed control systems.
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-2025-48020 published to NVD
- 2026-02-13 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-48020
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability affects the Vnet/IP Interface Package, a critical network communication component used in Yokogawa's CENTUM VP distributed control system (DCS) platforms. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of malformed network packets within the Vnet/IP software stack.
The attack requires adjacent network access, meaning an attacker must be positioned on the same network segment as the vulnerable device. While no user interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability, the attack complexity is considered high, suggesting that specific conditions must be met for successful exploitation. The impact is limited to availability, as the vulnerability can only cause a denial of service condition without compromising confidentiality or integrity of the system.
Root Cause
The root cause is classified under CWE-617 (Reachable Assertion). This indicates that the Vnet/IP software stack contains an assertion statement that can be triggered by specially crafted input. When the assertion fails due to unexpected or malicious packet data, the software process terminates abnormally. Assertions are typically used during development for debugging purposes but should be replaced with proper error handling in production code to prevent denial of service conditions.
Attack Vector
The attack vector requires adjacent network positioning. An attacker with access to the same network segment as the Vnet/IP Interface Package can send maliciously crafted packets to trigger the vulnerable assertion. Upon receiving these packets, the Vnet/IP software stack processes them incorrectly, causing the assertion to fail and the process to terminate.
The vulnerability manifests when the Vnet/IP software stack receives and processes malformed network packets. For technical details regarding the specific packet structure and exploitation mechanism, refer to the Yokogawa Security Advisory YSAR-26-0002-E.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-48020
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected termination or restart of Vnet/IP software stack processes on CENTUM VP systems
- Network traffic anomalies targeting Vnet/IP interface components with malformed packet structures
- System logs indicating assertion failures or abnormal process terminations in the Vnet/IP stack
Detection Strategies
- Monitor network traffic for unusual or malformed packets directed at Vnet/IP Interface components
- Implement network intrusion detection rules to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting industrial control system protocols
- Configure process monitoring on CENTUM VP systems to alert on unexpected Vnet/IP process terminations
Monitoring Recommendations
- Deploy network monitoring solutions capable of inspecting traffic to and from CENTUM VP distributed control systems
- Establish baseline network behavior for Vnet/IP communications to identify deviations
- Implement logging and alerting for process crashes and restarts on affected systems
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-48020
Immediate Actions Required
- Review the Yokogawa Security Advisory YSAR-26-0002-E for vendor-specific mitigation guidance
- Implement network segmentation to restrict access to Vnet/IP Interface components from untrusted network segments
- Apply firewall rules to limit network access to CENTUM VP systems to authorized personnel and devices only
- Monitor affected systems for signs of exploitation attempts or unexpected process terminations
Patch Information
Yokogawa Electric Corporation has released security guidance for this vulnerability. Organizations should consult the Yokogawa Security Advisory YSAR-26-0002-E for specific patch information and update procedures for the Vnet/IP Interface Package. Affected versions include R1.07.00 and earlier for both CENTUM VP R6 (VP6C3300) and CENTUM VP R7 (VP7C3300) platforms.
Workarounds
- Isolate CENTUM VP systems on dedicated network segments with strict access controls
- Implement network-level filtering to block potentially malicious traffic before it reaches Vnet/IP interfaces
- Deploy industrial protocol-aware firewalls or intrusion prevention systems at network boundaries
- Restrict physical and logical access to networks containing affected industrial control systems
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
