Kaspersky researchers have discovered that a Bluetooth vulnerability in wireless barcode readers allows remote code execution in warehouse and retail networks.
Kaspersky Security Services researchers have identified a critical security vulnerability in wireless barcode readers widely used in warehouses and the retail industry. This vulnerability, caused by the lack of authentication between devices and base stations, paves the way for attackers to infiltrate the system via Bluetooth and run code remotely on connected computers. Today, when the global e-commerce volume exceeds 6 trillion dollars, these hardware at the heart of supply chains can turn into Trojan horses that can paralyze the entire operational network.
Keystrokes are spoofed via Bluetooth: How does the attack occur?
Modern logistics centers and warehouses are no longer just physical areas where products are stacked; They operate as complex technology ecosystems where hundreds of connected devices talk to each other. In a standard warehouse setup, wireless barcode readers in the hands of personnel transfer data first to a base station and from there to the main workstation or server. The main vulnerability revealed by Kaspersky experts stems from the absence of any authentication mechanism between the barcode reader and the base station in this communication process.
The attack scenario is quite silent and proceeds without the need for user intervention. An attacker who enters the coverage area of a warehouse or store can learn the MAC address of the base station by passively listening to Bluetooth traffic while employees are doing their daily routine. Then, the attacker establishes a direct Bluetooth connection to this base station with his own device and sends a malicious data payload that imitates keyboard keystrokes (HID - Human Interface Device) to the system.
The base station detects these fake signals as coming from a legitimate barcode reader and transmits them directly to the computer it is connected to. The workstation accepts this data as the keyboard input of a real user. As a result, the attacker can execute unauthorized commands on the connected computer even when no one is in front of the screen and gains the initial permanent access point (initial foothold) within the operational technology (OT) network.
Not Only Barcode Scanners, but the Entire Warehouse Ecosystem is at Risk
Researchers point out that this method, which has been observed in devices from more than one major manufacturer, is just a starting step. Compromised workstations are generally located in a trusted location within the corporate network and communicate directly with critical systems. Similar attack vectors apply to other terminal devices:
Handheld Terminals (PDR): Portable data terminals used by field personnel for stock tracking can be directly targeted to infiltrate the network.
Thermal Printers: Networked label and receipt printers can be used as backdoors due to weak security protocols.
Warehouse Management Systems (WMS): The infiltration attempt, which starts from end devices, can extend to the capture of the central WMS software that manages the entire supply chain.
Security Precautions to be Taken for the Logistics and Retail Sector
The fact that global e-commerce sales have approximately doubled since 2019 and exceeded the 6 trillion dollar threshold makes the importance of punctuality in logistics operations more critical than ever. Even a few hours of downtime in systems can lead to huge financial losses and supply crises.
Commenting on the subject, Sergey Sidorov, Head of Kaspersky Industrial Security Services, emphasizes that the modern retail and logistics world has become completely digital, from corporate management platforms to the devices in the hands of personnel in the field. According to Sidorov, this seamless end-to-end connection proves that technology at any level, including a single barcode reader, can turn into an infiltration point that can stop the entire ecosystem.
To protect operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems (ICS) in warehouse and retail environments from such infiltrations, the following steps must be taken:
