A series of attacks targeting refrigeration control systems across European supermarkets has resulted in millions in damages and physical fires.
The investigation confirms that attackers exploited legacy controllers running outdated firmware, completely lacking network-level security like VPNs or IP whitelisting.
These incidents illustrate the high-risk implications of maintaining unsupported industrial hardware without basic digital hygiene.
Experts highlight that these vulnerabilities were entirely preventable.
How did the attack happen?
According to the researchers, the attackers exploited the fact that the control systems were outdated and had not been updated with newer software. In addition, these devices were exposed to the internet without basic protection measures, such as limiting access to authorized users or using secure network connections.
Copeland confirmed that the vulnerability affects older controller models, which are no longer supported by the company. Experts emphasize that the incident could have been avoided if basic digital protection rules had been implemented. Similar risks were previously highlighted by both the security company Claroty in 2025 and the US agency CISA in 2026.
Who is behind the incident?
There has been no official claim of responsibility so far, so the motives of the perpetrators remain unknown. Investigators are examining various scenarios, such as the possibility that it was an act of mass vandalism or intervention by international actors.
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