Overview
The cyber threat landscape constantly evolves, and every so often, a vulnerability emerges that demands immediate attention. CVE-2025-10159 is one such vulnerability, affecting Sophos AP6 Series Wireless Access Points. The flaw allows remote attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, potentially leading to unauthorized administrative control over the system. Given the widespread usage of Sophos AP6 Access Points in businesses and organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. If not addressed, attackers could potentially compromise systems and leak sensitive data.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-10159
Severity: Critical (CVSS 9.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: System Compromise, Potential Data Leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Sophos AP6 Series Wireless Access Points | Firmware versions older than 1.7.2563 (MR7)
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability stems from a flaw in the authentication mechanism of the affected Sophos AP6 access points. Specifically, an attacker can craft specific network packets that, when sent to the device, bypass the usual authentication checks. This allows the attacker to gain administrative privileges and control the device remotely. This control could be used for a variety of malicious activities, including the compromise of the wider system or the extraction of sensitive data.
Conceptual Example Code
The following is a conceptual example of how an attacker might exploit this vulnerability. Note that this is a simplified example for illustrative purposes and may not reflect the exact methods used in a real-world exploit.
POST /admin/login HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable_access_point
Content-Type: application/json
{ "username": "admin", "password": "bypass" }In this example, the attacker sends a POST request to the ‘/admin/login’ endpoint of the vulnerable access point. The ‘username’ and ‘password’ fields contain the bypass exploit – in this case, the string “bypass”. The vulnerable device fails to properly authenticate this request, giving the attacker administrative access.
Mitigation and Recommendations
The vendor, Sophos, has released a patch for the vulnerability in firmware version 1.7.2563 (MR7). All users of the affected products are strongly recommended to update their devices to this version or later. If immediate patching is not possible, users should consider implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) as a temporary mitigation measure. These tools can help detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
