CVE-2018-25148 in IPn4G
Summary
by MITRE • 12/24/2025
Microhard Systems IPn4G 1.1.0 contains multiple authenticated remote code execution vulnerabilities in the admin interface that allow attackers to create crontab jobs and modify system startup scripts. Attackers can exploit hidden admin features to execute arbitrary commands with root privileges, including starting services, disabling firewalls, and writing files to the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2025
The CVE-2018-25148 vulnerability affects Microhard Systems IPn4G version 1.1.0, representing a critical security flaw in network infrastructure equipment that exposes organizations to significant operational risks. This vulnerability resides within the device's administrative web interface and demonstrates a severe lack of proper access controls and input validation mechanisms. The flaw enables authenticated attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code with root-level permissions, fundamentally compromising the device's security posture and potentially the broader network infrastructure it protects.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of administrative functions within the web interface, allowing attackers to access hidden administrative features that should remain restricted. The vulnerability specifically permits the creation of crontab jobs and modification of system startup scripts, which are critical system-level operations that directly impact device functionality and security. This flaw operates under CWE-284 Access Control, where improper access control mechanisms allow unauthorized privilege escalation, and more specifically aligns with CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command, as attackers can execute system commands through the administrative interface without proper sanitization.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the device's execution environment. Attackers can initiate services, disable firewall protections, and write arbitrary files to the system, effectively enabling them to establish persistent access, modify system configurations, and potentially use the device as a pivot point for attacking other network components. The ability to manipulate startup scripts and crontab jobs means that malicious payloads can survive device reboots, creating persistent backdoors that are particularly difficult to detect and remove. This vulnerability directly maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter for executing commands, T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, and T1543 Create or Modify System Process for modifying system startup scripts.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention from network administrators and security teams responsible for maintaining IPn4G devices. The primary remediation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches or firmware updates that address the authentication bypass and access control flaws. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to these administrative interfaces, enforce strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication, and regularly audit administrative access logs for suspicious activities. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous command execution patterns and unauthorized modifications to system scripts will help identify exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider disabling unnecessary administrative features and services, and regularly review and update access control policies to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to critical administrative functions. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation and input validation in network infrastructure devices, highlighting how seemingly minor flaws in authentication mechanisms can lead to complete system compromise.