CVE-2018-25146 in IPn4G
Summary
by MITRE • 12/24/2025
Microhard Systems IPn4G 1.1.0 contains an undocumented vulnerability that allows authenticated attackers to list and manipulate running system processes. Attackers can send arbitrary signals to kill background processes and system services through a hidden feature, potentially causing service disruption and requiring device restart.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-25146 resides within Microhard Systems IPn4G version 1.1.0, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity and availability of network infrastructure devices. This issue manifests as an undocumented backdoor functionality that grants authenticated attackers elevated privileges beyond normal operational parameters, creating a significant risk for industrial control systems and network equipment deployments. The vulnerability specifically affects devices operating within the IPn4G platform ecosystem, which are commonly deployed in critical infrastructure environments where system stability and security are paramount.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a hidden administrative interface or command mechanism that bypasses standard authentication protocols while maintaining the ability to execute system-level operations. Attackers with valid credentials can exploit this feature to enumerate active processes running on the device, gaining visibility into system operations and service configurations. The flaw operates through signal-based manipulation capabilities that allow the execution of kill signals against background processes and system services, effectively enabling process termination without proper authorization. This functionality directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a fundamental failure in access control implementation.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-25146 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential system instability and complete device unavailability. When attackers utilize the documented signal manipulation capabilities, they can terminate critical system services and background processes that maintain device functionality, forcing operators to manually restart devices and potentially causing extended downtime. This vulnerability creates a scenario where legitimate system operations can be interrupted through malicious process termination, leading to cascading failures in network connectivity and service availability. The requirement for device restart represents a significant operational burden that can affect mission-critical deployments where continuous operation is essential for maintaining network integrity.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques that exploit hidden administrative features. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear path for attackers to escalate their privileges through legitimate authentication mechanisms while maintaining access to system-level operations. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates, network segmentation, and monitoring for unauthorized process manipulation activities. Additionally, the incident highlights the importance of conducting comprehensive security assessments of industrial control systems and implementing proper access control measures that prevent unauthorized signal injection and process manipulation. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar undocumented features that could pose similar risks to system availability and operational integrity.