CVE-2025-12351 identifies an authorization bypass vulnerability in Honeywell S35 series cameras, including 3M, 5M, 8M, Pinhole, and Kit models. The vulnerability arises from improper authorization checks related to a user-controlled key, classified under CWE-639 (Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key) and CWE-668 (Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere). An attacker with low privileges (PR:L) can exploit this flaw remotely (AV:N) without user interaction (UI:N) but with high attack complexity (AC:H). Successful exploitation allows privilege escalation to administrative functions, granting control over camera settings, video streams, and potentially enabling further network reconnaissance or lateral movement. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.8 (medium severity), reflecting high confidentiality and integrity impact but no availability impact. Honeywell has released patches in August 2025 for various S35 camera models: Pinhole/Kit (version 2025.08.28), AI Fisheye & Dual Sensor/Micro Dome/Full Color Eyeball & Bullet (2025.08.22), and Thermal Camera (2025.08.26). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the vulnerability's nature makes it a significant risk for environments relying on these cameras for physical security. The vulnerability's exploitation could undermine surveillance integrity, allowing attackers to disable or manipulate video feeds or gain footholds in secured networks.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to physical security and operational integrity. Compromise of Honeywell S35 cameras could lead to unauthorized surveillance, tampering with video evidence, or disabling security monitoring, which is critical in sectors such as transportation, energy, government facilities, and corporate campuses. The ability to escalate privileges to admin level increases the risk of attackers pivoting into broader network environments, potentially leading to data breaches or disruption of critical services. Confidentiality and integrity of surveillance data are directly impacted, undermining trust in security infrastructure. Given the medium CVSS score and the high attack complexity, exploitation might be limited to skilled attackers with network access, but the consequences remain severe. Organizations in Europe with extensive deployments of Honeywell cameras in sensitive locations must prioritize remediation to avoid potential espionage, sabotage, or compliance violations under regulations like GDPR.

1. Immediately update all affected Honeywell S35 cameras to the vendor-recommended versions released in August 2025 to patch the authorization bypass vulnerability. 2. Implement strict network segmentation to isolate security cameras from general corporate networks, limiting attacker lateral movement if a device is compromised. 3. Enforce strong access controls and monitoring on camera management interfaces, including multi-factor authentication where supported. 4. Regularly audit camera firmware versions and configurations to ensure compliance with security policies. 5. Deploy network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) to monitor for anomalous traffic patterns targeting camera devices. 6. Limit exposure of camera management ports to the internet or untrusted networks. 7. Educate security teams on this specific vulnerability to recognize potential exploitation attempts. 8. Maintain an incident response plan that includes compromised physical security devices to quickly isolate and remediate affected assets.