CVE-2025-12266 is a code injection vulnerability identified in Zytec Dalian Zhuoyun Technology's Central Authentication Service, specifically affecting versions up to 20251009. The vulnerability resides in the _empty function within the /index.php/auth/widget endpoint. Attackers can manipulate the parameters get.layer, get.widget, or get.action to inject malicious code remotely without requiring authentication or user interaction. This type of vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected server, potentially leading to full system compromise, unauthorized access, or disruption of authentication services. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 5.3, reflecting medium severity, with an attack vector of network (remote), low attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. The vendor was notified early but has not issued any patches or advisories, and the exploit code has been publicly released, increasing the risk of exploitation. The absence of vendor response and patch availability means organizations must rely on alternative mitigation strategies. The vulnerability impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of authentication services, which are critical components in enterprise security architectures. Given the central role of authentication services, exploitation could facilitate lateral movement, privilege escalation, and data breaches.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the security of authentication infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to bypass or compromise centralized authentication mechanisms. This could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive systems and data, disruption of business operations, and erosion of trust in identity management processes. Organizations in sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, which rely heavily on robust authentication services, are particularly vulnerable. The public availability of exploit code increases the likelihood of opportunistic attacks, especially against unpatched or poorly monitored systems. The lack of vendor patches exacerbates the risk, forcing organizations to implement compensating controls. Additionally, any compromise of authentication services could have cascading effects on connected systems and services, amplifying the overall impact.

Given the absence of official patches, European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable parameters (get.layer, get.widget, get.action). 2) Conduct thorough input validation and sanitization at the application or proxy level to prevent injection attempts. 3) Restrict network access to the authentication service to trusted IP ranges and enforce strict segmentation to limit exposure. 4) Monitor logs and network traffic for anomalous activities indicative of exploitation attempts, including unusual parameter values or unexpected code execution patterns. 5) Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and additional identity verification layers to reduce the impact of potential authentication service compromise. 6) Prepare incident response plans specific to authentication service breaches. 7) Engage with Zytec Dalian Zhuoyun Technology for updates and consider alternative authentication solutions if remediation is delayed. 8) Regularly update and patch all related infrastructure components to minimize attack surface.