Ethical Hacking News
Recent research has identified 22 new vulnerabilities in popular serial-to-IP converters from Lantronix and Silex, exposing thousands of devices to hijacking and data tampering. Experts warn that users must take immediate action to protect themselves against these flaws.
Nearly 20,000 Serial-to-Ethernet converters are exposed online globally, making them vulnerable to hijacking and data manipulation.Serial-to-IP converters can be compromised using BRIDGE:BREAK vulnerabilities, which allow attackers to take control of mission-critical devices.The vulnerabilities fall under several categories, including remote code execution, denial-of-service, authentication bypass, and device takeover.Experts warn that users must take proactive steps to protect themselves against these vulnerabilities in critical environments.User recommendations include replacing default credentials, avoiding weak passwords, segmenting networks, and conducting regular security assessments.
The recent discovery of 22 new vulnerabilities in popular serial-to-IP converters from Lantronix and Silex has sent shockwaves throughout the cybersecurity community, highlighting the potential for widespread exploitation and data tampering. According to a report by Forescout Research Vedere Labs, nearly 20,000 Serial-to-Ethernet converters are exposed online globally, making them vulnerable to hijacking and data manipulation.
Serial-to-IP converters are hardware devices that enable users to remotely access, control, and manage any serial device over an IP network or the internet. These devices are commonly used in industrial control systems (ICS) and legacy applications that operate over TCP/IP. However, the recent vulnerabilities identified by Forescout Research Vedere Labs have raised serious concerns about the security implications of these devices.
The vulnerabilities, collectively codenamed BRIDGE:BREAK, fall under several broad categories, including remote code execution, client-side code execution, denial-of-service (DoS), authentication bypass, device takeover, firmware tampering, configuration tampering, information disclosure, and arbitrary file upload. These flaws allow attackers to take full control of mission-critical devices connected via serial links, disrupt serial communications with field assets, conduct lateral movement, and tamper with sensor values or modify actuator behavior.
In a hypothetical attack scenario, a threat actor could gain initial access to a remote facility through an internet-exposed edge device, such as an industrial router or firewall, and then weaponize BRIDGE:BREAK vulnerabilities to compromise the serial-to-IP converter, and alter serial data moving to or from the IP network. This could have severe consequences for organizations that rely on these devices to manage critical infrastructure.
Lantronix and Silex have released security updates to address the identified issues, but experts warn that users must take proactive steps to protect themselves against these vulnerabilities. "This research highlights weaknesses in serial-to-IP converters and the risks they can introduce in critical environments," said Forescout. "As these devices are increasingly deployed to connect legacy serial equipment to IP networks, vendors and end-users should treat their security implications as a core operational requirement."
To mitigate the risk of these vulnerabilities, users are advised to replace default credentials, avoid using weak passwords, segment networks to prevent bad actors from reaching vulnerable serial-to-IP converters or using them as jumping-off points to other critical assets, and ensure the devices are not exposed to the internet. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities and implement appropriate countermeasures.
The discovery of these vulnerabilities highlights the importance of ongoing cybersecurity monitoring and the need for vendors and end-users to prioritize device security. As serial-to-IP converters become increasingly integrated into critical infrastructure, it is essential that we take proactive steps to address these vulnerabilities and prevent exploitation.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Vulnerabilities-in-Serial-to-IP-Converters-Expose-Thousands-to-Hijacking-and-Data-Tampering-ehn.shtml
https://thehackernews.com/2026/04/22-bridgebreak-flaws-expose-20000.html
https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20260421196105/bridgebreak-forescout-identifies-22-new-vulnerabilities-on-serial-to-ip-converters-and-finds-thousands-exposed-online
Published: Tue Apr 21 12:53:46 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
