CVE-2025-44955: Critical Vulnerability in RUCKUS Network Director Allows Jail Users to Gain Root Access

Overview

In the fast-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, it is crucial to identify and address system vulnerabilities promptly. One such vulnerability has been discovered in the RUCKUS Network Director (RND), designated as CVE-2025-44955. This vulnerability has far-reaching implications for all users of RND versions prior to 4.5, as it could potentially allow jailed users to escalate their privileges and obtain root access via a weak, hardcoded password.
The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to severe system compromise and data leakage, posing a significant threat to any organization’s network security. Given the critical role of RND in managing wireless infrastructure, understanding and mitigating this vulnerability is of paramount importance for maintaining robust network security.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-44955
Severity: High (8.8 CVSS score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: System compromise and Potential Data Leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

RUCKUS Network Director | Before 4.5

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability arises from the use of a weak hardcoded password in RND versions before 4.5. This allows jailed users, who are ordinarily restricted within the system, to exploit this vulnerability and escalate their privileges to obtain root access. With root access, these users can then execute commands with unrestricted privileges, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakages.

Conceptual Example Code

Here is a conceptual example demonstrating how the vulnerability might be exploited via a shell command:

ssh jaileduser@target.system.com
# User enters the weak hardcoded password
password: weak_password
# User now has jailed access to the system
# Privilege escalation to root user via the hardcoded password
su root
password: weak_password
# User now has root access to the system

Remember, this example is purely conceptual and does not represent an actual exploit code. It’s intended to illustrate the potential impact of the vulnerability and the ease with which it could be exploited if left unaddressed.

Mitigation Guidance

The most effective way to mitigate this vulnerability is to apply the patch provided by the vendor. If for any reason, the patch cannot be immediately applied, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can offer temporary mitigation. However, the ultimate solution remains the application of the vendor patch. Always strive to keep your systems up-to-date to prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited.