CVE-2025-41708 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Bender CC612 product, identified as CWE-319, which pertains to the cleartext transmission of sensitive information. The root cause of this vulnerability is an insecure default configuration where the device's web interface uses HTTP instead of HTTPS. This lack of encryption means that data transmitted between the user and the device is sent in plaintext, making it susceptible to interception. An unauthenticated attacker who is on the same network segment as the victim can exploit this vulnerability to capture sensitive information such as credentials, configuration details, or other confidential data exchanged via the web interface. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.4 reflects a high impact on confidentiality and integrity, with no requirement for authentication or user interaction, but with a higher attack complexity due to the need for network proximity. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability presents a significant risk, especially in environments where network segmentation is weak or where the device is deployed in shared or public network environments. The absence of HTTPS by default is a critical misconfiguration that undermines the security posture of the affected device and can lead to unauthorized data disclosure and potential further compromise if attackers leverage the intercepted information.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial, particularly in sectors relying on Bender CC612 devices for critical infrastructure or industrial control systems. The interception of sensitive data could lead to unauthorized access, manipulation of device settings, or disruption of operations. Confidentiality breaches may expose proprietary or personal data, potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations, leading to legal and financial repercussions. Integrity impacts could result in altered device configurations, causing operational failures or safety hazards. Since the vulnerability requires network proximity, organizations with poorly segmented networks or remote access configurations are at higher risk. The vulnerability could also be exploited as a foothold for lateral movement within corporate networks, escalating the threat landscape. Given the high CVSS score and the nature of the affected device, the vulnerability poses a significant threat to operational continuity and data security in European industrial and enterprise environments.

To mitigate this vulnerability effectively, organizations should immediately assess their deployment of Bender CC612 devices and verify the configuration of the web interface. The primary recommendation is to enforce the use of HTTPS by configuring the device to disable HTTP access and enable secure TLS-based communication. If the device firmware does not support HTTPS or secure configuration options, organizations should contact the vendor for patches or updated firmware that address this issue. Network-level mitigations include isolating the device on a dedicated VLAN or subnet with strict access controls to limit exposure to only trusted users and systems. Implementing network monitoring and intrusion detection systems to detect anomalous traffic patterns can help identify exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security audits and penetration tests focusing on network segmentation and device configurations. Educating staff about the risks of unsecured device interfaces and enforcing strong network access policies will further reduce the attack surface. Finally, organizations should maintain an inventory of affected devices and track vendor advisories for any forthcoming patches or updates.