Overview
PTZOptics cameras, and potentially other ValueHD-based pan-tilt-zoom cameras, have become a potential security risk due to a vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-35451. This vulnerability stems from the use of hard-coded, default administrative credentials in these cameras, which cannot be altered by the user. This makes it easy for cybercriminals to crack the passwords and gain unauthorized access. Moreover, many of these cameras have SSH or telnet services listening on all interfaces, which cannot be disabled by the users, thereby increasing the level of the security risk. This situation is particularly concerning due to the high possibility of system compromise and data leakage.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-35451
Severity: Critical (CVSS score 9.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise and potential data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
PTZOptics | All versions
ValueHD-based PTZ Cameras | All versions
How the Exploit Works
The exploit operates by leveraging the hard-coded, default administrative credentials in the PTZOptics and possibly other ValueHD-based pan-tilt-zoom cameras. An attacker can easily crack the passwords and gain unauthorized access to the camera system. This is further compounded by the fact that many of these cameras have SSH or telnet services listening on all interfaces, which cannot be disabled by the user. With this unrestricted access, the attacker can compromise the system and potentially cause significant data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
Below is a conceptual example of how an attacker might exploit this vulnerability using SSH:
ssh admin@target.camera.ip
password: admin
# The attacker is now logged in as an admin and can execute any commandNote: This is a conceptual example demonstrating the vulnerability, not an actual guide to exploiting systems. Misuse of this information can violate laws and ethical standards.
Mitigation Guidance
Given the severity of this vulnerability, it is urgent for users to apply the vendor patch as soon as it becomes available. In the interim, users can use a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to detect and block potential attacks. It is also recommended to isolate these cameras from the internet or any untrusted networks until the patch is applied.
