CVE-2025-34116 is an OS command injection vulnerability identified in the IPFire open-source firewall project, affecting all versions prior to 2.19 Core Update 101. The flaw resides in the 'proxy.cgi' CGI interface, specifically within the NCSA user creation form fields. An attacker with valid authentication credentials can craft malicious input that is improperly sanitized, allowing injection of arbitrary shell commands. These commands execute with the privileges of the web server process, which typically has elevated access on the firewall system. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements (CWE-78), insufficient input validation (CWE-20), and inadequate authentication controls (CWE-306). The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and privileges required (PR:L), with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability enables remote command execution, which could lead to full system compromise, unauthorized access to network traffic, or disruption of firewall services. IPFire is widely used in small to medium enterprises and some critical infrastructure environments as a firewall and security gateway, making this vulnerability particularly concerning. The lack of a patch link suggests that remediation involves upgrading to version 2.19 Core Update 101 or later once available.

For European organizations, exploitation of CVE-2025-34116 could result in severe consequences including unauthorized control over firewall devices, exposure of sensitive network traffic, and potential lateral movement within internal networks. Given IPFire’s role as a perimeter defense mechanism, compromise could undermine network security posture, allowing attackers to bypass firewall rules, intercept or modify data, and disrupt business operations. Critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, telecommunications, and government agencies that deploy IPFire appliances are at heightened risk. The high CVSS score reflects the potential for widespread impact, especially in environments where IPFire devices are internet-facing or accessible by multiple administrators. Additionally, the requirement for authentication means insider threats or compromised credentials could facilitate exploitation. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the vulnerability’s nature demands urgent attention to prevent future attacks.

European organizations should immediately verify their IPFire versions and plan upgrades to version 2.19 Core Update 101 or later once released. Until patches are applied, restrict access to the 'proxy.cgi' interface and the NCSA user creation form to trusted administrators only, ideally via VPN or secure management networks. Implement strict multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all administrative accounts to reduce the risk of credential compromise. Conduct thorough audits of user accounts and remove any unnecessary or inactive credentials. Employ network segmentation to isolate firewall management interfaces from general user networks. Monitor firewall logs for unusual command execution patterns or unexpected administrative actions. Consider deploying host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) on IPFire devices to detect anomalous behavior. Finally, establish incident response plans specifically addressing firewall compromise scenarios to enable rapid containment and recovery.