CVE-2018-25140 in Thermal Traffic Cameras
Summary
by MITRE • 12/24/2025
FLIR thermal traffic cameras contain an unauthenticated device manipulation vulnerability in their WebSocket implementation that allows attackers to bypass authentication and authorization controls. Attackers can directly modify device configurations, access system information, and potentially initiate denial of service by sending crafted WebSocket messages without authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2025
The FLIR thermal traffic camera vulnerability CVE-2018-25140 represents a critical security flaw in the WebSocket communication implementation that undermines fundamental authentication and authorization mechanisms. This vulnerability exists within industrial security cameras deployed for traffic monitoring and surveillance purposes, creating a significant risk to public safety infrastructure. The flaw allows attackers to exploit the device's communication protocol without requiring valid credentials, effectively bypassing all security controls designed to protect these critical systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper WebSocket message handling within the FLIR camera firmware. When the device receives WebSocket messages, it fails to validate the authenticity of the sender or verify proper authorization levels before processing configuration changes. This design flaw falls under CWE-287 which addresses authentication failures, and specifically relates to CWE-306 which deals with missing authentication in web applications. The vulnerability enables attackers to send malicious WebSocket frames that trigger unauthorized modifications to camera settings, system parameters, and operational configurations without any form of authentication verification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential disruption of critical traffic monitoring services. Attackers can manipulate camera focus, zoom levels, recording schedules, and even disable essential security features that protect traffic infrastructure. This capability creates opportunities for denial of service attacks where cameras can be rendered non-functional or configured to provide misleading surveillance data. The vulnerability also allows for information disclosure attacks where system details, network configurations, and operational parameters can be accessed without authorization, potentially exposing sensitive infrastructure information to malicious actors.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning given the deployment context of FLIR thermal traffic cameras in public infrastructure environments. These devices typically operate in high-traffic areas where surveillance reliability is critical for public safety and security operations. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that any individual with network access to the device can exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in environments where physical security measures may be insufficient. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocols and T1499.004 which addresses network disruption through manipulation of connected devices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-25140 should focus on both immediate network-level protections and long-term firmware updates. Organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate these devices from general network traffic and deploy firewalls that restrict WebSocket communication to authorized management systems only. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual WebSocket traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Device administrators should also consider implementing additional authentication layers such as mutual TLS authentication for WebSocket connections and regular security audits of networked devices. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure WebSocket implementation in IoT devices and the need for comprehensive security testing during the development lifecycle to prevent similar authentication bypass issues in industrial security equipment.