CVE-2025-32889 identifies a security vulnerability in goTenna v1 devices running app version 5.5.3 and firmware version 0.25.5. The core issue is the presence of a hardcoded verification token within the application, which is used to authenticate SMS messages sent through the goTenna server. This token is intended to verify legitimate requests to the server; however, embedding it directly in the app code (a classic CWE-798: Use of Hard-coded Credentials) exposes it to extraction by attackers through reverse engineering or static analysis of the app binary. Once obtained, an attacker can impersonate legitimate devices or users by sending unauthorized SMS messages via the goTenna infrastructure without needing any additional authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.3, reflecting high severity, with the vector indicating low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring local attack vector (AV:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact primarily affects availability (A:H) with some confidentiality (C:L) and integrity (I:L) loss. Exploitation could allow attackers to disrupt communication services or inject false messages, potentially undermining the reliability of goTenna's off-grid messaging capabilities. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been published yet. The vulnerability was reserved in April 2025 and published in May 2025. Given goTenna's use in decentralized, off-grid communication scenarios often employed by outdoor enthusiasts, emergency responders, and certain tactical operations, this flaw could have significant operational consequences if exploited.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability depends on the extent to which goTenna devices are used within critical or sensitive communication contexts. Organizations relying on goTenna for emergency communications, remote field operations, or secure off-grid messaging could face service disruption or misinformation injection, undermining operational continuity and situational awareness. The availability impact is high, meaning attackers could potentially block or flood messaging channels, causing denial of service. Confidentiality and integrity impacts, while lower, still pose risks of unauthorized message interception or spoofing, which could lead to misinformation or leakage of sensitive operational details. Given that no authentication or user interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability, attackers with local access to the app binary or intercepted app updates could weaponize this flaw remotely. European emergency services, NGOs operating in remote areas, and organizations involved in outdoor logistics or tactical communications are particularly at risk. Additionally, misinformation or disruption in critical communication channels could have cascading effects on public safety and crisis response.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting access to the goTenna app binaries and firmware to trusted personnel only, minimizing the risk of token extraction. 2. Organizations should monitor network traffic for anomalous SMS activity routed through goTenna servers, looking for unauthorized or suspicious message patterns. 3. Employ network segmentation and endpoint security controls to limit the ability of attackers to access or reverse engineer the app on devices. 4. Engage with goTenna or device vendors to prioritize the release of a patched firmware and app version that removes hardcoded tokens and implements secure dynamic token generation or authentication mechanisms. 5. Until patches are available, consider limiting the use of vulnerable goTenna devices in critical communication roles or supplementing them with alternative secure communication methods. 6. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focused on mobile and embedded device applications to detect similar hardcoded credential issues. 7. Educate users and administrators about the risks of installing unofficial or modified versions of the app, which may exacerbate exposure. 8. Implement logging and alerting on goTenna server-side infrastructure to detect abnormal usage patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.