The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-36752 affects the Growatt ShineLan-X communication dongle, specifically version 3.6.0.0. It involves the presence of an undocumented backup account with hard-coded credentials, which are not publicly disclosed but embedded within the device firmware. This backdoor account allows an attacker to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and gain significant access privileges, including full access to the device's Setting Center. The Setting Center controls critical configuration parameters of the dongle, which interfaces with solar energy systems to monitor and manage energy production and distribution. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials), a serious security flaw that undermines device security by enabling unauthorized access. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:A/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA:H) indicates that the attack can be performed remotely over the network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges, no user interaction, and results in high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no exploits have been reported in the wild, the existence of such a backdoor is a critical risk, as attackers could leverage it to manipulate device settings, disrupt energy management operations, or pivot into broader network environments. The lack of available patches at the time of publication further exacerbates the threat, necessitating immediate defensive measures.

For European organizations, especially those involved in renewable energy production and management, this vulnerability poses a significant threat. Compromise of the ShineLan-X dongle could lead to unauthorized manipulation of solar energy system configurations, potentially causing operational disruptions, inaccurate energy reporting, or even physical damage to connected infrastructure. Confidentiality breaches could expose sensitive operational data, while integrity violations might allow attackers to falsify energy metrics or disable safety features. Availability impacts could result in downtime or loss of control over energy assets, affecting business continuity and regulatory compliance. Given the increasing reliance on smart energy management devices in Europe’s green energy initiatives, exploitation of this vulnerability could have cascading effects on energy supply chains and critical infrastructure. Additionally, attackers could use compromised devices as footholds for lateral movement within organizational networks, increasing the risk of broader cyberattacks.

Immediate mitigation steps include isolating affected ShineLan-X devices within segmented network zones to limit exposure. Organizations should monitor network traffic for unauthorized access attempts or unusual configuration changes related to these dongles. Since no official patches are currently available, contacting Growatt for firmware updates or security advisories is critical. Employing network-level access controls such as VPNs, firewalls, and strict ACLs can reduce remote attack surfaces. Implementing multi-factor authentication and strong credential management on associated management platforms can help mitigate risks from compromised devices. Regularly auditing device configurations and logs will aid in early detection of exploitation attempts. Organizations should also prepare incident response plans specific to energy management systems and coordinate with national cybersecurity agencies for threat intelligence sharing. Finally, considering alternative communication dongles or vendors with stronger security postures may be warranted for long-term risk reduction.