CVE-2025-12945 is a vulnerability identified in the NETGEAR Nighthawk R7000P router series, specifically affecting firmware versions up to 1.3.3.154. The root cause is improper input validation (CWE-20) in the router’s administrative interface, which allows an authenticated administrator to inject arbitrary operating system commands. This vulnerability requires the attacker to have administrative privileges on the router, meaning that exploitation is limited to insiders or attackers who have already compromised admin credentials. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and does not affect confidentiality directly but can impact system integrity and availability by enabling command execution on the router’s underlying OS. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates attack vector is adjacent network (AV:A), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:H - high privileges required), no user interaction (UI:N), and low impact on confidentiality and integrity but a disruption to availability (A:D). No public exploits or patches are currently available, and the vulnerability was published on December 9, 2025. The lack of patches means that affected devices remain vulnerable until an update is released. The vulnerability could be leveraged to alter router configurations, disrupt network traffic, or pivot to other internal systems if combined with other vulnerabilities or weak network segmentation.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-12945 is primarily on network infrastructure integrity and availability. Organizations relying on NETGEAR R7000P routers in SOHO or small branch office environments could face risks of unauthorized command execution if administrative credentials are compromised. This could lead to network disruptions, unauthorized configuration changes, or potential lateral movement within the network. While the vulnerability requires admin authentication, weak password policies or credential reuse could increase risk. The disruption of router availability could impact business continuity, especially for SMEs that depend on these devices for internet access and VPN connectivity. Confidentiality impact is limited unless combined with other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations. Given the low CVSS score and absence of known exploits, the immediate threat level is low, but the potential for escalation exists if attackers gain admin access.

1. Restrict administrative access to the router interface by limiting management to trusted IP addresses or VPN connections. 2. Enforce strong, unique passwords for router admin accounts and consider multi-factor authentication if supported. 3. Regularly monitor router logs and network traffic for unusual commands or configuration changes. 4. Segment network infrastructure to limit the impact of compromised devices and prevent lateral movement. 5. Stay informed about NETGEAR firmware updates and apply patches promptly once available. 6. Consider replacing affected devices with models that have no known vulnerabilities or better security features if patches are delayed. 7. Implement network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) to detect anomalous command injection attempts or unusual router behavior. 8. Educate network administrators on secure router management practices and the risks of credential compromise.