Rockwell Automation says a new remote code execution exploit linked to an unnamed Advanced Persistent Threat group could be used to target unpatched ControlLogix communications modules commonly used in manufacturing, electric, oil and gas, and liquified natural gas industries.

The company teamed up with the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to analyze the exploit linked to APT threat actors, but they have yet to share how they obtained it.

“Knowing about an APT-owned vulnerability before exploitation is a rare opportunity for proactive defense for critical industrial sectors,” said industrial cybersecurity firm Dragos which also analyzed the APT exploit.

“We know there is an exploit owned by an unknown APT and we have not seen nor are we aware of any exploitation in the wild,” Dragos Senior Threat Analyst Kevin Woolf told BleepingComputer.

“Previous threat actors cyberactivity involving industrial systems suggests a high likelihood that these capabilities were developed with an intent to target critical infrastructure and that victim scope could include international customers,” Rockwell also warned.

VMware warns of exploit available for critical vRealize RCE bug.