Cyberattack on Danfoss Refrigeration Systems Disrupts Major French Supermarkets
Refrigeration systems in French supermarkets suffered a cyberattack targeting Danfoss panels, forcing them into thermal defrost cycles, spoiling goods and costing two stores approximately 270,000 euros.
Refrigeration control systems at French supermarket chains suffered a cyberattack targeting Danfoss control panels, forcing them to run defrost cycles starting October 11, according to Infosecurity Magazine.
The forced cycles raised temperatures inside the cooling units to around 50 degrees Celsius, threatening the safety of chilled and frozen products and leading to their spoilage.
The Intermarché chain said 150 stores were affected by the attack, while Carrefour reported that 80 out of 6,000 stores were impacted. Two stores in the town of Haguenau in the Alsace region recorded losses of around 270,000 euros, equivalent to $302,000.
Danfoss confirmed that the targeted models, AK-SM800, AK-SC355, and AK-SM800A, were legacy models or had not been updated with security patches. The incident highlights how outdated industrial controllers can become a vulnerability threatening food supply chains.
What do these terms mean?
Industrial Control: Computer systems that manage machinery and equipment in factories and facilities, including refrigeration units in stores and warehouses.
Security Patch: A software update that fixes a vulnerability in a system, which must be applied quickly because unupdated devices remain vulnerable to attack.
Defrost Cycle: A process in which the refrigeration unit melts naturally accumulated ice; if forced to operate outside its scheduled time, temperatures inside it rise.
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