Overview
The cybersecurity community recently identified a critical vulnerability in Unitree Go1’s firmware. The flaw, cataloged as CVE-2025-45466, exposes the system to potential compromise due to hardcoded plaintext authentication credentials. This vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects all versions up to and including Go1_2022_05_11. The potential damage that can be caused by this vulnerability is severe and could lead to significant data leaks or even total system control. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for users and system administrators to understand the nature of this vulnerability and take the necessary precautions.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-45466
Severity: High (CVSS:8.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
Escape the Surveillance Era
Most apps won’t tell you the truth.
They’re part of the problem.
Phone numbers. Emails. Profiles. Logs.
It’s all fuel for surveillance.
Ameeba Chat gives you a way out.
- • No phone number
- • No email
- • No personal info
- • Anonymous aliases
- • End-to-end encrypted
Chat without a trace.
Product | Affected Versions
Unitree Go1 | <= Go1_2022_05_11 How the Exploit Works
The exploit takes advantage of hardcoded authentication credentials in plaintext in the firmware of the Unitree Go1. A malicious actor could discover these credentials and use them to gain unauthorized access to the system. Once in, they can manipulate the system, potentially gaining control over data and resources.
Conceptual Example Code
Let’s consider a conceptual scenario where the attacker sends a network request to the system, exploiting the vulnerability.
GET /login HTTP/1.1
Host: unitree.example.com
Authorization: Basic [hardcoded plaintext credentials]The above example showcases how the hardcoded plaintext credentials could be used in the HTTP authorization field to gain access to the system.
Mitigation Guidelines
To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2025-45466, it is recommended to apply the vendor patch as soon as possible. However, if for some reason the patch cannot be applied immediately, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) could serve as a temporary mitigation measure. These systems can help detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts, thus reducing the risk of exploitation. Additionally, it is advised to regularly update all systems and applications to the latest versions, as they often include security patches for known vulnerabilities.