ABB Products Vulnerable to Authentication Bypass: Critical Security Alert

Authentication Bypass Vulnerability Discovered in ABB Industrial Products

Madrid, Spain – January 19, 2026 – INCIBE-CERT, Spain’s national cybersecurity institute, has issued a critical security alert regarding an authentication bypass vulnerability affecting multiple ABB industrial products. The flaw could allow unauthorized access to sensitive systems, posing significant risks to operational technology (OT) environments.

Technical Details

While specific technical details remain limited in the initial advisory, the vulnerability is classified as an authentication bypass issue. This type of flaw typically enables attackers to circumvent authentication mechanisms, potentially granting access to administrative functions or sensitive data without valid credentials. INCIBE-CERT has not yet disclosed:

• The exact CVE ID(s) associated with the vulnerability
• Affected product versions and models
• Proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit details

The advisory references ABB’s product line, suggesting the vulnerability may impact industrial control systems (ICS), programmable logic controllers (PLCs), or other OT components widely used in critical infrastructure sectors.

Impact Analysis

Authentication bypass vulnerabilities in industrial environments can have severe consequences, including:

• Unauthorized system access: Attackers could gain control over industrial processes, leading to operational disruptions or safety incidents.
• Lateral movement: Compromised systems may serve as entry points for deeper network infiltration, particularly in converged IT/OT environments.
• Data exfiltration: Sensitive operational data, intellectual property, or configuration details could be extracted.
• Compliance violations: Unpatched vulnerabilities may result in non-compliance with industry regulations such as NIST SP 800-82, IEC 62443, or NERC CIP.

Recommendations for Security Teams

INCIBE-CERT and ABB are expected to release further details, including patches or mitigations, in the coming days. In the interim, security teams should:

1. Identify affected assets: Inventory all ABB products in use, particularly those exposed to corporate networks or the internet.
2. Monitor advisories: Track updates from INCIBE-CERT and ABB’s security portal for official patches and mitigation guidance.
3. Implement compensating controls:
   • Restrict network access to vulnerable systems using firewalls or network segmentation.
   • Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible to reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
   • Monitor for anomalous authentication attempts or unusual activity on OT networks.
4. Prepare for patching: Allocate resources for testing and deploying patches once available, prioritizing critical systems.

This advisory underscores the ongoing risks posed by authentication flaws in OT environments. Security teams are urged to act swiftly to mitigate potential exposure.

For the latest updates, refer to the original INCIBE-CERT advisory.