---
title: "Critical Vulnerability in Welker OdorEyes: No Authentication Exposes Industrial Systems"
short_title: "Welker OdorEyes critical authentication flaw"
description: "CVE-2026-24790 exposes Welker OdorEyes EcoSystem Pulse Bypass Systems to remote attacks. Learn mitigation steps and protect critical infrastructure now."
author: "Vitus"
date: 2025-01-24
categories: [Cybersecurity, Vulnerabilities]
tags: [cve-2026-24790, ics-security, critical-infrastructure, authentication-bypass, welker]
score: 0.85
cve_ids: [CVE-2026-24790]
---
TL;DR
A critical vulnerability (CVE-2026-24790) in Welker OdorEyes EcoSystem Pulse Bypass Systems allows unauthenticated remote access to programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Exploitation could lead to over- or under-odorization events, jeopardizing chemical, energy, and manufacturing sectors worldwide. Welker has not responded to coordination efforts, leaving users to implement defensive measures independently.
---
Main Content
Critical Authentication Flaw in Welker OdorEyes Threatens Industrial Safety
A severe security vulnerability in Welker OdorEyes EcoSystem Pulse Bypass Systems with XL4 Controller has been disclosed, exposing critical infrastructure to potential remote attacks. Identified as CVE-2026-24790, this flaw stems from a missing authentication mechanism for critical functions, allowing threat actors to manipulate PLCs without credentials. The implications are dire, particularly for sectors reliant on precise odorization control, such as chemical, energy, and food production.
---
Key Points
- Vulnerability Impact: Successful exploitation could trigger over- or under-odorization events, disrupting industrial processes and posing safety risks.
- Affected Systems: All versions of the Welker OdorEyes EcoSystem Pulse Bypass System with XL4 Controller are vulnerable.
- CVSS Score: 8.2 (High), indicating a severe risk due to low attack complexity and no requirement for user interaction.
- Global Deployment: Systems are deployed worldwide, including in chemical, critical manufacturing, energy, and food/agriculture sectors.
- Vendor Response: Welker has not responded to CISA’s coordination attempts, leaving mitigation efforts to end-users.
---
Technical Details
#### Vulnerability Overview
CVE-2026-24790 is classified under [CWE-306: Missing Authentication for Critical Function](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/306.html). The flaw enables remote attackers to influence the underlying PLC of the OdorEyes system without authentication, bypassing safeguards designed to prevent unauthorized access.
#### CVSS Metrics
The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.2, with the following vector:
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:L
- Attack Vector (AV:N): Exploitable remotely via network.
- Attack Complexity (AC:L): Low complexity; no specialized conditions required.
- Privileges Required (PR:N): None; no authentication needed.
- User Interaction (UI:N): None required.
- Scope (S:U): Impact confined to the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality (C:N): No impact on confidentiality.
- Integrity (I:H): High impact; attackers can manipulate critical functions.
- Availability (A:L): Low impact on system availability.
---
Impact Assessment
#### Sectors at Risk
The vulnerability disproportionately affects critical infrastructure sectors, including:
- Chemical: Odorization is critical for leak detection in gas pipelines.
- Energy: Ensures safety in natural gas distribution networks.
- Food and Agriculture: Used in processing and storage facilities to detect gas leaks.
- Critical Manufacturing: Integral to industrial safety protocols.
#### Potential Consequences
- Safety Hazards: Over- or under-odorization could lead to undetected gas leaks, increasing the risk of explosions or toxic exposure.
- Operational Disruption: Unauthorized manipulation of PLCs may cause shutdowns or malfunctions in industrial processes.
- Regulatory Non-Compliance: Failure to address the vulnerability could result in violations of industry safety standards.
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Mitigation Steps
Given Welker’s lack of response, CISA recommends the following defensive measures to minimize exploitation risks:
1. Network Segmentation:
- Isolate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls.
- Ensure industrial systems are not accessible from the internet.
2. Secure Remote Access:
- Use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for remote access, ensuring they are updated to the latest version.
- Recognize that VPNs are only as secure as the devices connected to them.
3. Monitoring and Detection:
- Implement intrusion detection systems (IDS) to monitor for suspicious activity.
- Regularly audit logs for unauthorized access attempts.
4. Patch Management:
- While no official patch is available, users should contact Welker directly for updates or workarounds.
- Keep all systems updated with the latest security patches for associated software and hardware.
5. Risk Assessment:
- Conduct a thorough impact analysis and risk assessment before deploying defensive measures.
- Refer to CISA’s [ICS Cybersecurity Best Practices](https://www.cisa.gov/ics) for guidance.
---
Affected Systems
- Product: Welker OdorEyes EcoSystem Pulse Bypass System with XL4 Controller
- Vendor: Welker
- Versions: All versions (vers:all/*)
- Status: Known to be affected
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Conclusion
The discovery of CVE-2026-24790 underscores the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures in industrial control systems. With no vendor response or patch available, organizations must proactively implement network segmentation, secure remote access, and monitoring to mitigate risks. The potential for safety hazards and operational disruption makes this vulnerability a critical concern for global critical infrastructure.
CISA continues to urge organizations to report suspicious activity and adhere to recommended cybersecurity practices. As the situation evolves, stakeholders should monitor updates from CISA and Welker for further guidance.
---
References
[^1]: CISA. "[ICS Advisory (ICSA-26-050-04): Welker OdorEyes EcoSystem Pulse Bypass System](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-26-050-04)". Retrieved 2025-01-24.
[^2]: MITRE. "[CWE-306: Missing Authentication for Critical Function](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/306.html)". Retrieved 2025-01-24.
[^3]: CVE Details. "[CVE-2026-24790](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-24790)". Retrieved 2025-01-24.
[^4]: CISA. "[Improving Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity with Defense-in-Depth Strategies](https://www.cisa.gov/ics)". Retrieved 2025-01-24.