CVE-2025-34129 is a critical OS command injection vulnerability affecting Merit LILIN Digital Video Recorder (DVR) devices running firmware versions prior to 2.0b60_20200207. The flaw arises from improper sanitization of user-supplied input in the FTP and NTP Server configuration fields. Specifically, the device's configuration interface accepts XML files containing these fields without adequately neutralizing special shell characters or commands. An attacker with access to this configuration interface can craft a malicious XML file embedding shell commands within the FTP or NTP Server fields. When the device performs configuration synchronization, these injected commands are executed with elevated privileges, effectively allowing remote code execution on the device. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command) and CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation). The CVSS v4.0 base score is 8.7, reflecting high severity due to network attack vector, low attack complexity, no required authentication, and no user interaction. Although the description states exploitation by the Moobot botnets in the wild, the provided data indicates no confirmed known exploits at the time of publication. The vulnerability enables attackers to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected DVR devices, potentially allowing them to execute arbitrary commands, disrupt video surveillance operations, or use the device as a foothold for lateral movement within networks. The lack of patches at the time of reporting increases the urgency for mitigation. The vulnerability affects all firmware versions prior to 2.0b60_20200207, implying a broad range of devices are vulnerable if not updated.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses significant risks, especially for sectors relying on Merit LILIN DVRs for security surveillance, such as critical infrastructure, transportation, government facilities, and corporate environments. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized control over surveillance devices, enabling attackers to disable or manipulate video feeds, thereby undermining physical security monitoring. Additionally, compromised DVRs could serve as entry points for attackers to infiltrate internal networks, escalate privileges, and conduct further attacks such as data exfiltration or ransomware deployment. The elevated privileges granted by the vulnerability exacerbate the threat, as attackers can execute arbitrary commands without restrictions. Given the network-exposed nature of these devices and the lack of required authentication for exploitation, the attack surface is broad. The presence of Moobot botnet exploitation attempts suggests active adversaries targeting these devices, increasing the likelihood of attacks against European organizations. Disruption of surveillance systems can have cascading effects on operational continuity and regulatory compliance, particularly under GDPR and other data protection frameworks if video data integrity or availability is compromised.

Organizations should immediately verify the firmware versions of all Merit LILIN DVR devices and prioritize upgrading to version 2.0b60_20200207 or later once available. In the absence of official patches, network-level mitigations should be implemented: restrict access to the DVR configuration interfaces by implementing strict firewall rules limiting management access to trusted IP addresses only; disable remote configuration interfaces if not required; employ network segmentation to isolate DVR devices from critical network segments; monitor network traffic for unusual FTP or NTP configuration update attempts; and deploy intrusion detection systems capable of identifying suspicious XML payloads or command injection patterns. Additionally, enforce strong authentication and access controls on device management interfaces to prevent unauthorized access. Regularly audit device configurations and logs for signs of tampering or exploitation attempts. Vendors and organizations should collaborate to expedite patch development and deployment. Finally, incorporate these devices into vulnerability management and incident response plans to ensure rapid detection and remediation of exploitation attempts.