Overview
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system has recently identified a significant security flaw in the AK-Nord USB-Server-LXL Firmware v0.0.16 Build 2023-03-13. This vulnerability, designated CVE-2025-52361, allows a low-privilege user to escalate their permissions to root level by exploiting insecure permissions in a specific script. This flaw is particularly concerning as it not only affects the integrity and security of the system but also poses a potential risk for data leakage and total system compromise.
The issue is of particular importance to system administrators and IT security personnel who handle systems running on the affected firmware, as it could allow malicious actors to gain unauthorized access and control over the system. Prompt action is required to mitigate this security risk and ensure the ongoing security of the infrastructure.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-52361
Severity: High (7.8)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise and data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
AK-Nord USB-Server-LXL Firmware | v0.0.16 Build 2023-03-13
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability lies within the insecure permissions of the /etc/init.d/lighttpd script in the AK-Nord USB-Server-LXL Firmware. A locally authenticated user with low-level privileges can exploit this vulnerability by editing the script. This modified script is then executed with root privileges during any interaction with the system or on every system boot, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary commands with escalated privileges.
Conceptual Example Code
The following is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. It illustrates the execution of a shell command that modifies the /etc/init.d/lighttpd script to include a malicious command:
echo "command_to_execute_with_root_privileges" >> /etc/init.d/lighttpdThis command appends a malicious command to the lighttpd script. When the system interacts with this script or during system boot, the appended command is executed with root privileges, leading to a privilege escalation attack. This code is only intended to illustrate the nature of the vulnerability and should not be used for malicious purposes.
Mitigation Guidance
To mitigate this vulnerability, users are advised to apply the latest vendor-provided patch. In the absence of a patch, temporary mitigation can be achieved by using Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS).
