CVE-2025-59448 in YoLink Ecosystem
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2025
Components of the YoSmart YoLink ecosystem through 2025-10-02 leverage unencrypted MQTT to communicate over the internet. An attacker with the ability to monitor network traffic could therefore obtain sensitive information or tamper with the traffic to control affected devices. This affects YoLink Hub 0382, YoLink Mobile Application 1.40.41, and YoLink MQTT Broker. NOTE: The vendor states that the vulnerability described (related to insecure transmission) only impacts the legacy mobile application logic, not the Hub hardware or firmware. The Hub functions solely as a pass-through (transparent gateway) for LoRa wireless data and does not inspect or process the application layer data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2025
The YoSmart YoLink ecosystem presents a significant security vulnerability through its reliance on unencrypted MQTT communication protocols in its components up to October 2, 2025. This vulnerability manifests as a critical weakness in the system's network security architecture where sensitive data transmission occurs without proper encryption mechanisms. The affected components include the YoLink Hub 0382, YoLink Mobile Application 1.40.41, and the YoLink MQTT Broker, all of which operate without implementing secure communication channels that would typically be expected in modern IoT ecosystems. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-319, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper encryption, and represents a fundamental failure in the security design of the communication infrastructure.
The technical flaw stems from the absence of encryption in the MQTT protocol implementation, which operates in an unencrypted state over internet connections. This creates a man-in-the-middle attack surface where network traffic monitoring capabilities can expose sensitive information including device control commands, user credentials, and operational data. The vulnerability allows attackers to intercept, modify, or inject malicious data into the communication streams between devices and the central hub. The attack vector operates through standard network monitoring tools that can capture and analyze unencrypted MQTT packets, potentially enabling full device control or data exfiltration. This weakness aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which describes network service scanning, and T1566 which covers credential harvesting through network traffic interception.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass full device compromise and potential unauthorized access to connected IoT infrastructure. An attacker who successfully monitors the network traffic can manipulate device states, potentially gaining control over connected smart home devices, sensors, or actuators that rely on the YoLink ecosystem. The implications are particularly severe given that the MQTT protocol is commonly used for real-time communication in IoT environments where immediate control actions are critical. The vulnerability affects the entire communication chain between mobile applications and networked devices, potentially allowing attackers to execute commands, modify device configurations, or disrupt normal operations.
Despite vendor claims that the vulnerability does not impact the Hub hardware or firmware directly, the security implications remain substantial for the overall ecosystem. The Hub's role as a transparent gateway for LoRa wireless data means that while it may not process application layer data, the network traffic passing through it remains vulnerable to interception. The vendor's statement regarding the legacy mobile application logic suggests that newer implementations may have addressed these issues, but the legacy components continue to pose significant risks. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader IoT security frameworks and implement network segmentation, traffic monitoring, and encryption measures to mitigate potential exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of end-to-end encryption in IoT systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security assessments of all communication channels within smart home ecosystems.