CVE-2025-41710 in ENERGY METER 750-230
Summary
by MITRE • 03/10/2026
An unauthenticated remote attacker may use hardcodes credentials to get access to the previously activated FTP Server with limited read and write privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in FTP server implementations where hardcoded credentials are embedded within the software code or configuration files. The presence of hardcoded credentials creates a persistent security weakness that remains exploitable regardless of system updates or user credential changes. Attackers can leverage these pre-configured credentials to establish unauthorized connections to the FTP service without requiring any valid user authentication. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where the FTP server has been previously activated and configured with these hardcoded credentials, which are typically stored in source code repositories, configuration files, or embedded within application binaries. This flaw directly violates security best practices outlined in cwe-798 and cwe-259, which emphasize the dangers of hardcoding authentication credentials in software. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no prior authentication knowledge or social engineering tactics, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can reach the target system. The limited read and write privileges granted through this vulnerability indicate that while attackers cannot fully compromise the system, they can still perform destructive operations such as uploading malicious files, modifying existing content, or accessing sensitive data stored on the FTP server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential data exfiltration, system compromise through malware deployment, and disruption of legitimate FTP services. Attackers can use the limited privileges to perform reconnaissance activities, identify other system vulnerabilities, or establish persistence mechanisms within the network. The presence of hardcoded credentials also creates a significant risk for organizations that fail to regularly audit their software configurations and code repositories. This vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the attack technique framework including attack-1133 for hard-coded credentials and attack-1071 for credential access. Organizations may face compliance violations under standards such as iso 27001 and pci dss when systems contain hardcoded credentials, as these represent fundamental security weaknesses that increase attack surface and potential breach impact. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing proper credential management practices and regular security audits to identify and remediate hardcoded authentication information that may be present in legacy applications or third-party software components.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate credential rotation and removal of hardcoded values from all system components. Organizations must implement comprehensive code review processes to identify and eliminate hardcoded credentials in source code, configuration files, and embedded systems. The recommended approach includes replacing hardcoded credentials with secure credential management solutions such as centralized authentication servers, environment variables, or secure vault systems. System administrators should conduct thorough inventory assessments to identify all instances of hardcoded credentials and ensure that FTP services are properly configured with dynamic authentication mechanisms. Regular security scanning should be implemented to detect any remaining hardcoded credentials in deployed systems, and automated tools should be employed to monitor code repositories for new instances of this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can limit the impact of successful exploitation, while logging and monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect unauthorized FTP access attempts. The remediation process must include updating all affected software versions, applying security patches, and ensuring that FTP server configurations follow security best practices as defined in nist sp 800-53 and other relevant security frameworks. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle credential-based attacks and ensure that security teams are trained to recognize and respond to exploitation attempts targeting hardcoded credentials.