Overview
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the vulnerability indexed as CVE-2025-49194. This security issue primarily arises due to the server’s support of authentication methods that transmit credentials in plaintext over unencrypted channels. It poses a significant risk to all systems that employ these authentication methods, potentially leading to system compromises or data leakage, if not promptly addressed.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-49194
Severity: Critical (7.5 CVSS score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Expose sensitive credentials, potential system compromise, and data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Server A | All versions supporting plaintext authentication
Server B | All versions supporting plaintext authentication
How the Exploit Works
An attacker exploiting this vulnerability would position themselves between the client and the server. During an authentication process, as the credentials are transmitted in plaintext over an unencrypted channel, the attacker can intercept and capture these credentials. The attacker can then misuse these credentials to gain unauthorized access to the system, leading to potential system compromise and data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
Below is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. This is a sample of a network packet capture demonstrating plaintext credentials transmission:
GET /login HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable-server.com
Authorization: Basic dXNlcm5hbWU6cGFzc3dvcmQ=In the HTTP request, the ‘Authorization’ header includes the base64 encoded ‘username:password’ string. As it is sent over an unencrypted channel, it can easily be decoded by an attacker intercepting the network traffic.
Mitigation Guidance
To mitigate this vulnerability, it is recommended to apply the vendor-provided patch, which ensures secure transmission of credentials. If the patch is not immediately available or applicable, employing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) as a temporary measure can help detect and prevent potential exploitation of this vulnerability. Long-term, systems should transition to secure authentication methods, such as those that utilize encrypted channels for credential transmission.
