Critical Vulnerabilities Expose Industrial Network Devices to Remote Takeover

Forescout discovered 22 critical vulnerabilities in widely-deployed serial-to-IP converters from Lantronix and Silex that could allow attackers to remotely execute code, bypass authentication, and take control of devices. These converters bridge legacy industrial equipment with modern networks, making them critical attack vectors into operational technology environments. With tens of thousands of these devices exposed online, the findings highlight how poor visibility and security practices around industrial networking equipment create significant attack surfaces that could impact utilities, manufacturing, and healthcare operations.