Overview
A significant vulnerability has been identified in various TRENDnet devices, namely the TI-G160i, TI-PG102i, and TPL-430AP models. This vulnerability, tracked under the CVE-2025-8731 identifier, pertains to the SSH Service component of these devices. Although the vendor states that the remote management options are disabled by default and the root account password is encrypted, a security flaw allows attackers to exploit default credentials. The gravity of this vulnerability is emphasized by its high CVSS Severity Score of 9.8, indicating a critical risk.
The impact of successful exploitation could lead to system compromise or data leakage, posing a significant threat to information security. Given that this exploit has been publicly disclosed, the urgency of addressing this vulnerability is heightened.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-8731
Severity: Critical (9.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
TRENDnet TI-G160i | Up to 20250724
TRENDnet TI-PG102i | Up to 20250724
TRENDnet TPL-430AP | Up to 20250724
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability lies in the SSH Service component of the affected TRENDnet devices. Despite the vendor’s claim that remote management options are deactivated by default and the root account password is encrypted, attackers can manipulate the system using default credentials. This allows remote unauthorized access to the system, leading to potential system compromise and data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
While the exact details of how this vulnerability can be exploited are not public, a conceptual exploit might involve an unauthorized SSH login attempt using default credentials. A simplified example might look like this:
ssh root@target_ip_address
Password: default_passwordIn this conceptual example, the attacker is using the default ‘root’ account and a known or brute-forced ‘default_password’ to gain unauthorized access to the system. It’s worth noting that real-world exploits are likely to be more complex and might involve additional steps or methods.