CVE-2024-41885 is a medium-severity vulnerability identified in the Hanwha Vision XRN-420S Network Video Recorder (NVR) devices, specifically affecting firmware versions 5.01.62 and earlier. The root cause of this vulnerability is the use of a hard-coded seed string for the encryption key, classified under CWE-547 (Use of Hard-coded, Security-relevant Constants). This design flaw allows an attacker with high privileges on the local network (as indicated by the CVSS vector AV:L and PR:H) to potentially execute remote code on the affected device without requiring user interaction. The vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or availability directly but impacts the integrity of the system, as it enables an attacker to manipulate the device's operation through code execution. The exploitation complexity is high due to the need for high privileges and local access, and no known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The manufacturer has released patched firmware to address this issue, although no direct patch links were provided in the source information. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on December 24, 2024, and was reserved in July 2024. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 5.6, reflecting a medium severity level. The flaw arises because the encryption seed string is hard-coded, which can be reverse-engineered or discovered by attackers, allowing them to bypass encryption protections and execute arbitrary code remotely on the device. This vulnerability is critical to address in environments where these NVRs are deployed, especially in security-sensitive contexts.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the security and integrity of video surveillance infrastructure. NVRs like the Hanwha Vision XRN-420S are often deployed in critical infrastructure, corporate security, public safety, and government facilities. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to unauthorized access to video feeds, tampering with recorded footage, or disrupting surveillance operations. This could undermine physical security measures and lead to data integrity issues. Given the medium severity and the requirement for high privileges and local access, the threat is more pronounced in environments where internal network security is weak or where attackers have already gained some level of network foothold. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests limited immediate risk, but the presence of a patch indicates that proactive remediation is essential to prevent future exploitation. Additionally, the compromise of surveillance systems can have cascading effects on compliance with European data protection regulations such as GDPR, especially if video data is exposed or manipulated.

European organizations using Hanwha Vision XRN-420S devices should immediately verify their firmware versions and upgrade to the latest patched firmware provided by the manufacturer. Since the vulnerability requires high privileges and local network access, organizations should also strengthen internal network segmentation to limit access to NVR devices only to authorized personnel and systems. Implement strict access controls and monitoring on the management interfaces of these devices. Employ network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) to detect anomalous activities targeting NVRs. Regularly audit device configurations to ensure no default or hard-coded credentials remain in use. Additionally, consider isolating surveillance networks from general corporate networks to reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also maintain an incident response plan that includes procedures for compromised surveillance equipment. Finally, coordinate with Hanwha Vision support channels to receive timely updates and advisories.