CVE-2025-11540 is a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) identified in a wide range of Sharp Display Solutions projectors, including models NP-P502HL-2, NP-P502WL-2, NP-P502HLG-2, NP-P502WLG, and many others, affecting all versions. The vulnerability arises from improper limitation of pathname inputs, allowing an attacker to craft requests that traverse directories and access arbitrary files stored on the projector's file system. This can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information contained within the device, such as configuration files, logs, or credentials. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. The CVSS 4.0 base score of 9.1 reflects the critical nature of this flaw, emphasizing high confidentiality and integrity impacts. While no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability's characteristics make it a prime candidate for exploitation once weaponized. The affected devices are commonly used in corporate, educational, and governmental settings, where projector systems may be connected to internal networks, potentially exposing sensitive data. The lack of available patches at the time of disclosure necessitates immediate compensating controls to reduce exposure. The vulnerability's exploitation could also facilitate further attacks by providing attackers with information to pivot within networks or disrupt operations.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-11540 is significant due to the potential unauthorized disclosure of sensitive files stored on projectors. This could include configuration data, network credentials, or other proprietary information, leading to confidentiality breaches. In sectors such as government, education, finance, and critical infrastructure, where these projectors are often deployed, such data exposure could facilitate espionage, compliance violations (e.g., GDPR), and reputational damage. The integrity of device configurations could also be undermined if attackers leverage disclosed information to manipulate projector settings or launch further attacks. Availability impact is less direct but could arise if attackers use the vulnerability as a foothold for denial-of-service or lateral movement. The ease of exploitation without authentication or user interaction increases the risk of widespread attacks, especially in environments where projectors are network-accessible without adequate segmentation or access controls. European organizations must consider the risk of targeted attacks exploiting this vulnerability to gain initial access or exfiltrate sensitive data.

1. Apply vendor-supplied patches immediately once available to remediate the path traversal flaw. 2. Until patches are released, isolate affected projectors on separate network segments or VLANs with strict firewall rules limiting access to trusted management hosts only. 3. Disable any unnecessary network services or remote management interfaces on the projectors to reduce attack surface. 4. Implement network monitoring and intrusion detection systems to identify suspicious access attempts targeting projector devices. 5. Review and restrict file permissions and access controls on projector file systems if configurable. 6. Conduct regular audits of projector configurations and logs to detect potential exploitation attempts. 7. Educate IT and security teams about the vulnerability and ensure incident response plans include steps for this threat. 8. Consider physical security controls to prevent unauthorized local access to projector devices. 9. Coordinate with Sharp Display Solutions for timely updates and vulnerability disclosures. 10. Maintain an asset inventory to identify all affected projector models within the organization.