CVE-2025-1709 is a medium-severity vulnerability identified in the Endress+Hauser MEAC300-FNADE4 device, specifically related to the insecure storage of credentials for its local PostgreSQL database. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-256, which pertains to the plaintext storage of passwords. In this case, several credentials are stored in plaintext or only partially obfuscated using base64 encoding, which is not a secure form of encryption. This flaw allows an attacker with local privileges (PR:L) and network access (AV:N) to potentially retrieve sensitive database credentials without requiring user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability does not affect the integrity or availability of the system directly but has a high impact on confidentiality (C:H), as unauthorized access to these credentials could lead to unauthorized database access, data leakage, or further lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects version 0 of the product, with no patches currently available and no known exploits in the wild. The CVSS 3.1 score of 6.5 reflects a medium severity due to the ease of network exploitation combined with the requirement for some privileges and the significant confidentiality impact. The device in question is used in industrial environments, likely within process automation and instrumentation sectors, where Endress+Hauser products are commonly deployed. The insecure credential storage represents a critical security weakness that could be leveraged by attackers to compromise sensitive operational data or disrupt industrial processes indirectly through data exfiltration or manipulation.

For European organizations, especially those in critical infrastructure sectors such as manufacturing, chemical processing, water treatment, and energy, the exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive operational databases. This could result in the exposure of proprietary process data, intellectual property, or operational parameters that are critical to maintaining safe and efficient industrial operations. While the vulnerability does not directly impact system availability or integrity, the confidentiality breach could facilitate further attacks, including espionage or sabotage. Given the reliance on Endress+Hauser devices in European industrial environments, exploitation could undermine trust in industrial control systems and lead to regulatory and compliance challenges under frameworks like NIS2 and GDPR if sensitive data is compromised. Additionally, attackers gaining database access might pivot to other network segments, increasing the risk of broader industrial control system compromise.

Organizations using Endress+Hauser MEAC300-FNADE4 devices should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Immediately restrict network access to the device’s management and database interfaces using network segmentation and firewall rules to limit exposure to trusted hosts only. 2) Enforce strict access controls and monitoring on devices to detect unauthorized local access attempts, as local privileges are required for exploitation. 3) Where possible, replace or upgrade devices to versions that do not store credentials in plaintext once patches become available. 4) Employ compensating controls such as encrypting sensitive configuration files at rest using external tools or secure vaults, if device firmware does not support secure storage. 5) Regularly audit and rotate database credentials to limit the window of exposure if credentials are compromised. 6) Implement intrusion detection systems (IDS) and security information and event management (SIEM) solutions to monitor for suspicious activities related to database access. 7) Engage with Endress+Hauser support channels to obtain guidance and timelines for official patches or firmware updates addressing this vulnerability.