SignalK Server up to 2.18.x Access Request Approval Interface authentication spoofing

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in SignalK Server up to 2.18.x. It has been rated as critical. The affected element is an unknown function of the component Access Request Approval Interface. This manipulation causes authentication spoofing. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2025-69203. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. No exploit exists. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in SignalK Server up to 2.18.x and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown function of the component Access Request Approval Interface. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a authentication spoofing vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-290. This attack-focused weakness is caused by incorrectly implemented authentication schemes that are subject to spoofing attacks. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Signal K Server is a server application that runs on a central hub in a boat. Versions prior to 2.19.0 of the access request system have two related features that when combined by themselves and with an information disclosure vulnerability enable convincing social engineering attacks against administrators. When a device creates an access request, it specifies three fields: `clientId`, `description`, and `permissions`. The SignalK admin UI displays the `description` field prominently to the administrator when showing pending requests, but the actual `permissions` field (which determines the access level granted) is less visible or displayed separately. This allows an attacker to request `admin` permissions while providing a description that suggests readonly access. The access request handler trusts the `X-Forwarded-For` HTTP header without validation to determine the client's IP address. This header is intended to preserve the original client IP when requests pass through reverse proxies, but when trusted unconditionally, it allows attackers to spoof their IP address. The spoofed IP is displayed to administrators in the access request approval interface, potentially making malicious requests appear to originate from trusted internal network addresses. Since device/source names can be enumerated via the information disclosure vulnerability, an attacker can impersonate a legitimate device or source, craft a convincing description, spoof a trusted internal IP address, and request elevated permissions, creating a highly convincing social engineering scenario that increases the likelihood of administrator approval. Users should upgrade to version 2.19.0 to fix this issue.

It is possible to read the advisory at github.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-69203 since 12/29/2025. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. The technical details are unknown and an exploit is not publicly available.

Upgrading to version 2.19.0 eliminates this vulnerability. The upgrade is hosted for download at github.com.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2025-206135). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Vendor

• SignalK

Name

• Server

Version

• 2.0
• 2.1
• 2.2
• 2.3
• 2.4
• 2.5
• 2.6
• 2.7
• 2.8
• 2.9
• 2.10
• 2.11
• 2.12
• 2.13
• 2.14
• 2.15
• 2.16
• 2.17
• 2.18

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

CVSSv3info

CVSSv2info

Exploitinginfo

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Countermeasuresinfo

Timelineinfo

Sourcesinfo

Entryinfo

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Discussion