CVE-2018-25126 in NVMS-9000
Summary
by MITRE • 11/24/2025
Shenzhen TVT Digital Technology Co., Ltd. NVMS-9000 firmware (used by many white-labeled DVR/NVR/IPC products) contains hardcoded API credentials and an OS command injection flaw in its configuration services. The web/API interface accepts HTTP/XML requests authenticated with a fixed vendor credential string and passes user-controlled fields into shell execution contexts without proper argument sanitization. An unauthenticated remote attacker can leverage the hard-coded credential to access endpoints such as /editBlackAndWhiteList and inject shell metacharacters inside XML parameters, resulting in arbitrary command execution as root. The same vulnerable backend is also reachable in some models through a proprietary TCP service on port 4567 that accepts a magic GUID preface and base64-encoded XML, enabling the same command injection sink. Firmware releases from mid-February 2018 and later are reported to have addressed this issue. Exploitation evidence was observed by the Shadowserver Foundation on 2025-01-28 UTC.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2025
The CVE-2018-25126 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the NVMS-9000 firmware developed by Shenzhen TVT Digital Technology Co., Ltd., which is widely deployed across various white-labeled DVR/NVR/IPC devices throughout the security industry. This vulnerability affects a significant number of network video recording systems that are commonly used in enterprise and industrial environments, making it particularly concerning from a cybersecurity perspective. The flaw manifests through two distinct attack vectors that together create a comprehensive remote code execution threat. The primary vector involves hardcoded API credentials that remain unchanged across firmware versions, while the secondary vector exploits a proprietary TCP service running on port 4567 that accepts specially formatted XML payloads through a base64-encoded mechanism.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from fundamental security misconfigurations within the firmware's authentication and input processing mechanisms. The system employs a fixed vendor credential string that is embedded within the firmware code, creating a persistent backdoor that remains accessible regardless of user configuration changes. This hardcoded credential allows attackers to authenticate to sensitive endpoints such as /editBlackAndWhiteList without requiring any legitimate user credentials or account information. The second component involves improper input sanitization within the XML parsing and command execution pipeline, where user-supplied parameters are directly passed to shell execution contexts without adequate validation or escaping. This creates a classic command injection vulnerability that operates at the operating system level, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete system control through a remote, unauthenticated attack surface. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands as root, effectively granting them full administrative control over the affected device. This level of access enables a wide range of malicious activities including data exfiltration, system modification, network reconnaissance, and potential lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability's reach is particularly concerning because it affects multiple device types through white-labeling practices, meaning that organizations may unknowingly deploy vulnerable systems across their infrastructure. The proprietary TCP service on port 4567 adds another dimension to the attack surface, as it provides an alternative entry point that may not be immediately obvious to network defenders or security monitoring systems.
Security mitigations for CVE-2018-25126 require immediate firmware updates from manufacturers to address the hardcoded credentials and implement proper input validation mechanisms. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory audits to identify all affected devices within their network infrastructure and ensure that firmware updates are applied promptly. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of these devices to untrusted networks, particularly the TCP service running on port 4567 which may not be properly secured. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) and CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command) categories, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and secure coding practices. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1021.001 (Remote Services: Remote Desktop Protocol) through the command execution capabilities, while also representing T1078.004 (Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts) through the hardcoded credential exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper credential management and input validation in embedded systems, particularly those handling sensitive network infrastructure components. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns on port 4567 and consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify exploitation attempts based on the specific XML payload structures used in this attack.