JEDDAH — Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, released a new report detailing inherent flaws and new vulnerabilities in radio frequency (RF) remote controllers found and disclosed through the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI). The report, A Security Analysis of Radio Remote Controllers for Industrial Applications, demonstrates how an attacker could persistently and remotely take control of, or simulate the malfunction of, the attacked machinery.
The report’s findings cover RF remote controllers found in cranes, drills, mining machinery and other industrial devices produced by the seven most commonly deployed vendors. These types of devices have become a major point of security weakness because of their connectivity. Long lifespans, high replacement costs, and cumbersome patching processes compound this problem.
“This research demonstrates a concerning reality for owners and operators of heavy industrial machinery where RF controllers are widely found,” said Bill Malik, VP of infrastructure strategies for Trend Micro. “By testing the vulnerabilities our researchers discovered, we confirmed the ability to…
