CVE-2025-15017 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-489 (Active Debug Code) found in the Moxa NPort 5000AI-M12 Series serial device servers, specifically version 1.0. The flaw arises because active debug code remains enabled on the UART interface, which is a hardware serial communication port typically used for device management or debugging. An attacker with physical access can directly connect to this UART interface and access internal debug functions without requiring any authentication, user interaction, or specific execution conditions. This direct access allows the attacker to perform privileged operations, potentially including reading or modifying sensitive system resources, firmware, or configuration data. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.0 base score of 7.0, indicating high severity, with attack vector being physical (AV:P), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H, I:H, A:H). Since the attack requires physical access, remote exploitation is not feasible, and no impact on external or dependent systems has been identified. No patches or mitigations have been officially released at the time of publication, and no known exploits are reported in the wild. This vulnerability is critical for environments where these devices are deployed in physically accessible locations, such as industrial control systems, manufacturing, or critical infrastructure networks.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-15017 is significant in sectors relying on Moxa NPort 5000AI-M12 Series devices for serial communication and device management, especially in industrial automation, manufacturing, energy, and transportation. Unauthorized physical access to these devices can lead to full compromise of the device’s internal functions, potentially disrupting operations, leaking sensitive configuration or operational data, or enabling further attacks within the local network. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected devices are all at high risk, which could result in operational downtime, safety hazards, or regulatory non-compliance. However, since exploitation requires physical access, the threat is mitigated in highly secured environments but remains critical in locations with less stringent physical security controls. No direct impact on connected external systems has been identified, limiting the scope to the compromised device itself. Nonetheless, compromised devices in critical infrastructure could serve as footholds for attackers to escalate attacks locally.

European organizations should immediately assess the physical security of all locations where Moxa NPort 5000AI-M12 Series devices are deployed, ensuring restricted access to prevent unauthorized physical connections to UART interfaces. Network segmentation should be enforced to isolate these devices from broader networks, limiting potential lateral movement if compromised. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or physically blocking access to UART ports where feasible. Implement strict inventory and asset management to identify all affected devices and monitor for unusual device behavior or unauthorized physical access attempts. Engage with Moxa for updates on patches or firmware upgrades addressing this vulnerability. Additionally, incorporate this vulnerability into risk assessments and incident response plans, emphasizing physical security controls and rapid response to detected intrusions. Regularly audit and update physical access policies in industrial and operational technology environments to reduce exposure.