BRIDGE:BREAK: New Vulnerabilities and Attack Scenarios in Serial-to-IP Converters

BRIDGE:BREAK is a technical research report analyzing security weaknesses in serial-to-IP converters used widely in industrial, healthcare, retail, and utility environments; the authors unpack firmware from multiple vendors, identify outdated components and weak binary hardening, and disclose 22 new vulnerabilities in Lantronix and Silex devices (including remote code execution, credential/firmware compromise, and DoS). The report demonstrates attack scenarios (data tampering in OT and DoS in healthcare), cites prior real-world incidents (notably 2015 and 2025 grid incidents), quantifies exposure via internet scanning, and issues urgent mitigation guidance (patching, segmentation, access controls, and vendor secure-development practices).