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Summary

ATN-B1 CPDLC relies on legacy clear text unauthenticated radio frequency links. Research demonstrates that these characteristics allow unauthorized message injection, denial-of-service conditions, and forced session resets. These vulnerabilities do not constitute an unsafe aircraft condition but can degrade operational safety margins by increasing workload, delaying safety-critical instructions, and reducing situational awareness.

The following versions of CPDLC over ATN-B1 Vulnerabilities are affected:

  • ATN-B1 CPDLC vers:all/* (CVE-2025-71409, CVE-2025-71410, CVE-2025-71411, CVE-2025-71412, CVE-2025-71413)

CVSS

Standard

Equipment

Vulnerabilities

v3 7.1

Advisory Circular 90-117 Data Link Communications

CPDLC over ATN-B1 Vulnerabilities

Missing Authentication for Critical Function, Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling, Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions

Background

  • Critical Infrastructure Sectors: Transportation Systems
  • Countries/Areas Deployed: Worldwide
  • Company Headquarters Location: Global

Vulnerabilities

Expand All +

CVE-2025-71409

Lack of authentication for Very High Frequency Data Link messages allows rogue ground stations to inject CPDLC messages leading to unexpected or misleading clearances and potential pilot confusion. This type of attack can be carried out remotely over radio frequency.

View CVE Details

Affected Products

CPDLC over ATN-B1 Vulnerabilities

Standard:

Advisory Circular 90-117 Data Link Communications

Product Version:

Advisory Circular 90-117 Data Link Communications ATN-B1 CPDLC: vers:all/*

Product Status:

known_affected

Remediations

None available

Currently, there is no mitigation available for CVE-2025-71409, CVE-2025-71410, CVE-2025-71411, CVE-2025-71412, CVE-2025-71413.

Mitigation

These vulnerabilities in the CPDLC protocol stack are exploitable in a lab environment. However, they require very specific conditions to be met and are unlikely to be exploited outside of a lab setting.

Mitigation

Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.

Mitigation

No known public exploitation specifically targeting these vulnerabilities has been reported to CISA at this time. These vulnerabilities have a high attack complexity.

Relevant CWE: CWE-306 Missing Authentication for Critical Function

Metrics

CVSS Version

Base Score

Base Severity

Vector String

3.1

7.1

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:L

4.0

7.1

HIGH

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:H/SA:L

CVE-2025-71410

Unnumbered Disconnect (U DISC) and malformed Aviation Very High Frequency Link Control frames can terminate sessions and lead to a loss of CPDLC functions requiring a reversion to voice communication and increased controller workload. This type of attack can be carried out remotely over radio frequency.

View CVE Details

Affected Products

CPDLC over ATN-B1 Vulnerabilities

Standard:

Advisory Circular 90-117 Data Link Communications

Product Version:

Advisory Circular 90-117 Data Link Communications ATN-B1 CPDLC: vers:all/*

Product Status:

known_affected

Remediations

None available

Currently, there is no mitigation available for CVE-2025-71409, CVE-2025-71410, CVE-2025-71411, CVE-2025-71412, CVE-2025-71413.

Mitigation

These vulnerabilities in the CPDLC protocol stack are exploitable in a lab environment. However, they require very specific conditions to be met and are unlikely to be exploited outside of a lab setting.

Mitigation

Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.

Mitigation

No known public exploitation specifically targeting these vulnerabilities has been reported to CISA at this time. These vulnerabilities have a high attack complexity.

Relevant CWE: CWE-770 Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling

Metrics

CVSS Version

Base Score

Base Severity

Vector String

3.1

5.3

MEDIUM

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

4.0

6

MEDIUM

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

CVE-2025-71411

Broadcast control frames can disconnect multiple aircraft simultaneously leading to delayed clearances and air traffic controller overload. This type of attack can be carried out remotely over radio frequency.

View CVE Details

Affected Products

CPDLC over ATN-B1 Vulnerabilities

Standard:

Advisory Circular 90-117 Data Link Communications

Product Version:

Advisory Circular 90-117 Data Link Communications ATN-B1 CPDLC: vers:all/*

Product Status:

known_affected

Remediations

None available

Currently, there is no mitigation available for CVE-2025-71409, CVE-2025-71410, CVE-2025-71411, CVE-2025-71412, CVE-2025-71413.

Mitigation

These vulnerabilities in the CPDLC protocol stack are exploitable in a lab environment. However, they require very specific conditions to be met and are unlikely to be exploited outside of a lab setting.

Mitigation

Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.

Mitigation

No known public exploitation specifically targeting these vulnerabilities has been reported to CISA at this time. These vulnerabilities have a high attack complexity.

Relevant CWE: CWE-770 Allocation of Resources Without Limits or Throttling

Metrics

CVSS Version

Base Score

Base Severity

Vector String

3.1

5.3

MEDIUM

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

4.0

6

MEDIUM

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

CVE-2025-71412

Injection of false emergency or status messages over CPDLC may lead to misallocation of resources, operational confusion, and improper response actions by flight crews, traffic controllers, and ground operations. This type of attack can be carried out remotely over radio frequency.

View CVE Details

Affected Products

CPDLC over ATN-B1 Vulnerabilities

Standard:

Advisory Circular 90-117 Data Link Communications

Product Version:

Advisory Circular 90-117 Data Link Communications ATN-B1 CPDLC: vers:all/*

Product Status:

known_affected

Remediations

None available

Currently, there is no mitigation available for CVE-2025-71409, CVE-2025-71410, CVE-2025-71411, CVE-2025-71412, CVE-2025-71413.

Mitigation

These vulnerabilities in the CPDLC protocol stack are exploitable in a lab environment. However, they require very specific conditions to be met and are unlikely to be exploited outside of a lab setting.

Mitigation

Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.

Mitigation

No known public exploitation specifically targeting these vulnerabilities has been reported to CISA at this time. These vulnerabilities have a high attack complexity.

Relevant CWE: CWE-754 Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions

Metrics

CVSS Version

Base Score

Base Severity

Vector String

3.1

7.1

HIGH

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:L

4.0

7.1

HIGH

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:H/SA:L

CVE-2025-71413

Malformed or out-of-sequence frames at the Aviation Very High Frequency Link Control X.25 layers cause repeated resets which may result in increased workload and reduced situational awareness. This type of attack can be carried out remotely over radio frequency.

View CVE Details

Affected Products

CPDLC over ATN-B1 Vulnerabilities

Standard:

Advisory Circular 90-117 Data Link Communications

Product Version:

Advisory Circular 90-117 Data Link Communications ATN-B1 CPDLC: vers:all/*

Product Status:

known_affected

Remediations

None available

Currently, there is no mitigation available for CVE-2025-71409, CVE-2025-71410, CVE-2025-71411, CVE-2025-71412, CVE-2025-71413.

Mitigation

These vulnerabilities in the CPDLC protocol stack are exploitable in a lab environment. However, they require very specific conditions to be met and are unlikely to be exploited outside of a lab setting.

Mitigation

Organizations observing suspected malicious activity should follow established internal procedures and report findings to CISA for tracking and correlation against other incidents.

Mitigation

No known public exploitation specifically targeting these vulnerabilities has been reported to CISA at this time. These vulnerabilities have a high attack complexity.

Relevant CWE: CWE-754 Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions

Metrics

CVSS Version

Base Score

Base Severity

Vector String

3.1

5.3

MEDIUM

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

4.0

6

MEDIUM

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Acknowledgments

  • Martin Strohmeier of Armasuisse reported these vulnerabilities to CISA

Legal Notice and Terms of Use

This product is provided subject to this Notification (https://www.cisa.gov/notification) and this Privacy & Use policy (https://www.cisa.gov/privacy-policy).

Revision History

  • Initial Release Date: 2026-08-07

Date

Revision

Summary

2026-08-07

1

Initial Publication

Legal Notice and Terms of Use