📄 Description (English)
OpenPLC v3 contains an authenticated remote code execution vulnerability that allows attackers with valid credentials to inject malicious code through the hardware configuration interface. Attackers can upload a custom hardware layer with embedded reverse shell code that establishes a network connection to a specified IP and port, enabling remote command execution.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
CVE-2021-47770 is a critical authenticated remote code execution vulnerability in OpenPLC v3 affecting industrial control systems. Attackers with valid credentials can inject malicious code through the hardware configuration interface to establish reverse shells and execute arbitrary commands. While no public exploit is available, the vulnerability poses significant risk to Saudi critical infrastructure, particularly energy and water sectors relying on OpenPLC for SCADA/ICS operations.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 22, 2026 02:00
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Critical impact on Saudi critical infrastructure sectors: (1) Energy Sector - ARAMCO and regional power generation facilities using OpenPLC for SCADA systems face operational disruption and potential safety incidents; (2) Water & Wastewater - SWCC and municipal water treatment plants relying on OpenPLC for process control; (3) Government Industrial Facilities - Defense and strategic infrastructure using industrial automation; (4) Manufacturing - Petrochemical and industrial facilities dependent on OpenPLC-based control systems. Compromise could lead to production shutdowns, safety hazards, and national security implications.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Energy (ARAMCO, Power Generation)
Water & Wastewater (SWCC, Municipal)
Government & Defense
Petrochemicals & Manufacturing
Critical Infrastructure
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application
T1199 - Trusted Relationship
T1021 - Remote Service Session Initiation
T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter
T1071 - Application Layer Protocol
T1572 - Protocol Tunneling
T1219 - Remote Access Software
T1021.004 - SSH
T1021.005 - VNC
T1098 - Account Manipulation
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
8.5
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
Immediate Actions:
1. Identify all OpenPLC v3 instances in your environment, particularly in critical infrastructure and SCADA systems
2. Restrict access to OpenPLC hardware configuration interface to authorized personnel only
3. Implement network segmentation isolating OpenPLC systems from untrusted networks
4. Enable comprehensive logging and monitoring of hardware configuration changes
Patching Guidance:
5. Apply available patches immediately to all OpenPLC v3 installations
6. Verify patch installation by checking version numbers and file integrity
7. Test patches in non-production environments before deployment
Compensating Controls (if patching delayed):
8. Implement multi-factor authentication for OpenPLC administrative access
9. Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) monitoring for reverse shell indicators
10. Restrict outbound connections from OpenPLC systems to whitelisted IPs/ports only
11. Monitor for suspicious hardware configuration uploads and network connections
Detection Rules:
12. Alert on any hardware configuration file uploads to OpenPLC
13. Monitor for unexpected outbound connections from OpenPLC systems
14. Track administrative credential usage and failed authentication attempts
15. Implement file integrity monitoring on OpenPLC configuration directories
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع نسخ OpenPLC v3 في بيئتك، خاصة في البنية التحتية الحرجة وأنظمة SCADA
2. تقييد الوصول إلى واجهة تكوين أجهزة OpenPLC للموظفين المصرح لهم فقط
3. تنفيذ تقسيم الشبكة لعزل أنظمة OpenPLC عن الشبكات غير الموثوقة
4. تفعيل السجلات الشاملة ومراقبة تغييرات تكوين الأجهزة
إرشادات التصحيح:
5. تطبيق التصحيحات المتاحة فوراً على جميع تثبيتات OpenPLC v3
6. التحقق من تثبيت التصحيح بفحص أرقام الإصدار وسلامة الملفات
7. اختبار التصحيحات في بيئات غير الإنتاج قبل النشر
الضوابط البديلة (إذا تأخر التصحيح):
8. تنفيذ المصادقة متعددة العوامل لوصول OpenPLC الإداري
9. نشر أنظمة كشف الاختراق (IDS) لمراقبة مؤشرات الأصداف العكسية
10. تقييد الاتصالات الصادرة من أنظمة OpenPLC إلى قائمة بيضاء من عناوين IP والمنافذ
11. مراقبة تحميلات تكوين الأجهزة المريبة والاتصالات الشبكية
قواعد الكشف:
12. تنبيهات عند أي تحميل ملفات تكوين أجهزة إلى OpenPLC
13. مراقبة الاتصالات الصادرة غير المتوقعة من أنظمة OpenPLC
14. تتبع استخدام بيانات اعتماد المسؤول ومحاولات المصادقة الفاشلة
15. تنفيذ مراقبة سلامة الملفات على دلائل تكوين OpenPLC
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.5.1.1 - Access Control Policies
ECC 2024 A.5.2.1 - User Registration and De-registration
ECC 2024 A.5.3.1 - Access Rights Review
ECC 2024 A.8.1.1 - Information Security Awareness
ECC 2024 A.12.4.1 - Event Logging
ECC 2024 A.12.4.3 - Administrator and Operator Logs
ECC 2024 A.14.2.1 - Security Requirements Analysis and Specification
🔵 SAMA CSF
Governance - Policy and Risk Management
Protect - Access Control and Authentication
Detect - Monitoring and Logging
Respond - Incident Response Procedures
Recover - Business Continuity for Critical Systems
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.5.1 - Policies for Information Security
A.5.2 - Information Security Roles and Responsibilities
A.6.1 - Screening
A.8.1 - Prior to Employment
A.8.2 - During Employment
A.8.3 - Termination and Change of Employment
A.9.1 - Access Control Policy
A.9.2 - User Access Management
A.9.4 - Access to Information and Other Associated Assets
A.12.4 - Logging
A.14.2 - Security Requirements Analysis and Specification
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
Requirement 1 - Firewall Configuration Standards
Requirement 2 - Default Passwords and Security Parameters
Requirement 7 - Restrict Access to Data by Business Need to Know
Requirement 8 - Assign Unique ID to Each Person with Computer Access
Requirement 10 - Track and Monitor Access to Network Resources
🔗 References & Sources 4