CVE-2025-49162 in VIP1113
Summary
by MITRE • 06/03/2025
Arris VIP1113 devices through 2025-05-30 with KreaTV SDK allow file overwrite via TFTP because a remote filename with a space character allows an attacker to control the local filename.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2025
The CVE-2025-49162 vulnerability affects Arris VIP1113 set-top boxes running KreaTV SDK versions through 2025-05-30, presenting a critical security flaw in the device's file transfer protocol implementation. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) handler, which processes remote file operations. The flaw specifically manifests when a remote filename contains space characters, enabling attackers to manipulate the local file destination during TFTP operations. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category, representing path traversal or directory traversal issues where attacker-controllable input can influence file system operations. The TFTP protocol implementation fails to properly sanitize or validate filename parameters, creating an opportunity for malicious file overwrites on the device's file system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves an attacker sending a specially crafted TFTP request containing a remote filename with embedded space characters. These space characters can be interpreted by the device's TFTP client as delimiters, allowing the attacker to specify arbitrary local file paths or overwrite existing files. The vulnerability represents a classic case of insecure file handling where user-supplied input directly influences file system operations without adequate validation or sanitization. This flaw enables an attacker to potentially overwrite critical system files, configuration files, or even executable components, leading to persistent access or system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates at the network level without requiring authentication, making it accessible to remote attackers within the device's network scope.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-49162 extends beyond simple file overwrites, potentially enabling full system compromise through strategic file manipulation. An attacker could overwrite system binaries, configuration files, or firmware components, leading to unauthorized code execution, persistent backdoors, or complete device takeover. The vulnerability affects devices that are typically deployed in customer premises, making them potential entry points for broader network infiltration. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1072 for "Software Deployment Tools" and T1547.001 for "Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder," as attackers could leverage the file overwrite capability to establish persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability also represents a significant risk for service providers who manage large deployments of these devices, as a single compromised device could serve as a foothold for attacking other connected systems. The impact is amplified by the fact that these devices often run with elevated privileges and may have access to network resources or sensitive customer data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-49162 should focus on immediate firmware updates from Arris, which will address the TFTP filename validation issue. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to these devices and monitor TFTP traffic for suspicious patterns. The implementation of network access controls and firewall rules can prevent unauthorized TFTP operations from external networks. Device administrators should conduct thorough inventory checks to identify all affected devices and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place. Additionally, monitoring for unusual file system modifications or TFTP requests with unusual filename patterns should be implemented. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in network protocols and highlights the need for proper security testing of embedded systems. Organizations should consider implementing network intrusion detection systems to identify and alert on potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of embedded devices and network infrastructure should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the network ecosystem.