CVE-2025-26358 is a vulnerability identified in Q-Free MaxTime versions up to and including 2.11.0, specifically within the ldbMT.so component. The issue is classified under CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) and CWE-15 (External Control of System or Configuration Setting). This vulnerability allows an authenticated remote attacker to send crafted HTTP requests that improperly manipulate system configuration settings. The root cause lies in insufficient validation of input parameters controlling system or configuration settings, enabling unauthorized modification despite authentication. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requiring low attack complexity (AC:L) but high privileges (PR:H), with no user interaction (UI:N). The impact primarily affects system integrity (I:H) and availability (A:L), with no direct confidentiality impact (C:N). The vulnerability could allow attackers to alter critical configuration parameters, potentially disrupting traffic management or tolling operations managed by MaxTime. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the vulnerability's presence in critical infrastructure software warrants attention. The lack of available patches at the time of reporting increases risk, emphasizing the need for immediate mitigation strategies.

For European organizations, especially those involved in transportation infrastructure, tolling, and traffic management, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to operational integrity and availability. Unauthorized configuration changes could lead to system misbehavior, service disruptions, or denial of service conditions affecting traffic flow and toll collection. Given that MaxTime is deployed in critical infrastructure environments, exploitation could have cascading effects on public safety, economic activity, and regulatory compliance. The medium CVSS score reflects the requirement for authenticated access, which somewhat limits the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, especially if credential compromise occurs. The absence of confidentiality impact reduces the risk of data leakage but does not mitigate the operational consequences. European entities relying on Q-Free MaxTime must consider the potential for targeted attacks aiming to disrupt transportation networks, which could have broader societal and economic impacts.

1. Immediately enforce strict authentication and access control policies to limit who can send configuration commands to MaxTime systems. 2. Implement network segmentation and firewall rules to restrict access to MaxTime management interfaces only to trusted administrative networks. 3. Monitor HTTP request logs and system configuration changes for unusual or unauthorized activity, enabling rapid detection of exploitation attempts. 4. Apply input validation controls at the network perimeter or via web application firewalls to detect and block malformed or suspicious HTTP requests targeting configuration endpoints. 5. Coordinate with Q-Free for timely patch releases and apply updates as soon as they become available. 6. Conduct regular credential audits and enforce strong password policies to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 7. Develop incident response plans specific to MaxTime systems to quickly respond to potential exploitation. 8. Consider deploying intrusion detection/prevention systems tuned for MaxTime traffic patterns and known attack signatures. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control hardening, monitoring, and network-level protections tailored to the operational context of MaxTime deployments.