CVE-2025-11142 is an OS command injection vulnerability identified in the AXIS OS version 12.6.54, used by Axis Communications AB in their network video products. The vulnerability exists in the VAPIX API endpoint mediaclip.cgi, which lacks sufficient input validation for parameters passed to the operating system commands. This improper neutralization of special elements (CWE-78) allows an authenticated attacker with operator or administrator privileges to inject and execute arbitrary OS commands remotely. The attack vector is network-based, requiring no user interaction but does require valid privileged credentials, limiting exploitation to authorized users or those who have compromised such accounts. The vulnerability impacts the integrity and availability of the affected system by enabling command execution that could disrupt device operation or alter system configurations. Although no public exploits are currently known, the ease of exploitation given network access and privileged credentials makes this a significant risk. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.1, with metrics indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), privileges required (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), no confidentiality impact (C:N), low integrity impact (I:L), and high availability impact (A:H). This vulnerability is particularly critical for organizations relying on Axis network video products for security and surveillance, as it could allow attackers to disrupt monitoring capabilities or gain further footholds within the network.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-11142 can be substantial, especially for those in critical infrastructure sectors such as transportation, energy, government facilities, and public safety that rely heavily on Axis network video devices for surveillance and monitoring. Successful exploitation could lead to denial of service or manipulation of video feeds, undermining physical security and situational awareness. The integrity of device configurations could be compromised, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent access or pivot to other internal systems. Although confidentiality is not directly impacted, the loss of availability and integrity in security devices can have cascading effects on organizational security posture and incident response capabilities. Additionally, the requirement for privileged authentication means insider threats or credential compromise scenarios are particularly concerning. Given the widespread use of Axis devices across Europe, disruption or compromise could affect large-scale surveillance operations and public safety monitoring, leading to operational downtime and reputational damage.

1. Apply patches or firmware updates from Axis Communications as soon as they are released to address CVE-2025-11142. 2. Restrict access to the VAPIX API and mediaclip.cgi endpoint to trusted networks and users only, using network segmentation and firewall rules. 3. Enforce strong authentication and credential management policies for operator and administrator accounts, including multi-factor authentication where possible. 4. Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual API calls or command execution attempts indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. Regularly audit and rotate privileged credentials to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 6. Implement intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) tuned to detect command injection patterns targeting Axis devices. 7. Limit the number of users with operator or administrator privileges to the minimum necessary. 8. Conduct security awareness training focused on credential security and phishing to prevent account compromise. 9. Consider deploying endpoint protection solutions on management workstations to detect lateral movement attempts originating from compromised devices. 10. Maintain an incident response plan that includes scenarios involving surveillance device compromise.