The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued an advisory concerning a significant security vulnerability in Johnson Controls’ iSTAR Configuration Utility (ICU) Tool. This flaw, identified as CVE-2025-26382, poses a substantial risk to critical infrastructure sectors worldwide.
Overview of the Vulnerability
CVE-2025-26382 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability present in ICU versions prior to 6.9.5. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program writes more data to a buffer than it can hold, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code. The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) v3.1 has assigned this flaw a base score of 9.8, indicating a critical severity level. The CVSS vector string is (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H). Additionally, a CVSS v4 score of 9.3 has been calculated, with the vector string (CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N). ([cisa.gov](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-25-114-05?utm_source=openai))
Potential Impact
Exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. This could lead to unauthorized access, data manipulation, or disruption of services, posing significant risks to sectors such as critical manufacturing, commercial facilities, government services, transportation systems, and energy. ([cisa.gov](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-25-114-05?utm_source=openai))
Affected Products
Johnson Controls has reported that all versions of the ICU tool prior to 6.9.5 are affected by this vulnerability. Organizations utilizing these versions are at risk and should take immediate action to mitigate potential threats. ([cisa.gov](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-25-114-05?utm_source=openai))
Mitigation Measures
To address this critical vulnerability, Johnson Controls recommends updating the ICU tool to version 6.9.5 or later. This update includes patches that rectify the buffer overflow issue, thereby enhancing the security of the system. Organizations are advised to perform proper impact analysis and risk assessment prior to deploying the update. ([cisa.gov](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-25-114-05?utm_source=openai))
Background and Reporting
The vulnerability was reported by Reid Wightman of Dragos, a cybersecurity firm specializing in industrial control systems. This collaboration underscores the importance of coordinated efforts between cybersecurity researchers and industry leaders in identifying and mitigating security flaws. ([cisa.gov](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-25-114-05?utm_source=openai))
Broader Context
This advisory is part of CISA’s ongoing commitment to securing industrial control systems, which are integral to the nation’s critical infrastructure. In recent months, CISA has issued multiple advisories addressing vulnerabilities in major industrial equipment manufacturers, including Siemens, Schneider Electric, and ABB hardware. These advisories have highlighted concerns such as SQL injection vulnerabilities and improper authentication mechanisms. ([industrialcyber.co](https://industrialcyber.co/cisa/cisa-issues-ics-advisories-on-hardware-vulnerabilities-from-rockwell-subnet-johnson-controls-mitsubishi-electric/?utm_source=openai))
Recommendations for Organizations
Organizations utilizing Johnson Controls’ ICU tool should take the following steps:
1. Update Software: Ensure that the ICU tool is updated to version 6.9.5 or later to mitigate the identified vulnerability.
2. Conduct Security Assessments: Regularly perform security assessments to identify and address potential vulnerabilities within the system.
3. Implement Defense-in-Depth Strategies: Adopt a multi-layered security approach, including network segmentation, VPN protection for remote access, and strict access controls.
4. Monitor Systems: Continuously monitor systems for unusual activity that may indicate a security breach.
5. Educate Personnel: Provide training to staff on recognizing and responding to potential cybersecurity threats.
Conclusion
The discovery of CVE-2025-26382 in Johnson Controls’ iSTAR Configuration Utility underscores the critical importance of proactive cybersecurity measures in protecting industrial control systems. By promptly updating affected software and implementing comprehensive security strategies, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation and safeguard their operations against potential cyber threats.
