CVE-2025-47698 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Cognex In-Sight 2000 series, specifically version 5.x of the firmware. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-319, which pertains to the cleartext transmission of sensitive information. The flaw allows an adjacent attacker—meaning an attacker on the same local network segment—to intercept and retrieve user-privileged credentials that are exposed during the firmware upgrade process. Notably, the attacker does not require prior authentication but does require user interaction, likely because the firmware upgrade procedure must be initiated or in progress. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.0 reflects the severity, with the vector indicating an attack vector of adjacent network (AV:A), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). The vulnerability arises because sensitive credentials are transmitted or exposed in an unprotected manner during firmware upgrades, allowing interception by an attacker on the same network segment. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the potential for credential compromise is significant, especially in industrial or manufacturing environments where these vision systems are deployed. The lack of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation.

For European organizations, especially those in manufacturing, automation, and industrial sectors, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk. Cognex In-Sight 2000 series devices are widely used in quality control and automated inspection systems. Compromise of user-privileged credentials could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to these devices, potentially leading to manipulation or disruption of automated processes. This could result in production downtime, compromised product quality, and safety hazards. Furthermore, since the vulnerability affects the firmware upgrade procedure, attackers might leverage stolen credentials to deploy malicious firmware or disrupt update mechanisms, escalating the impact to operational integrity and availability. The high confidentiality impact also raises concerns about intellectual property theft or leakage of sensitive operational data. Given the interconnected nature of industrial control systems in Europe, exploitation could propagate risks across supply chains and critical infrastructure. The requirement for adjacent network access limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk in environments where network segmentation is weak or where attackers have gained a foothold in local networks.

European organizations should implement network segmentation to isolate Cognex In-Sight 2000 series devices from general IT networks, reducing the risk of adjacent attackers gaining access. Employ strict access controls and monitoring on the local network segments where these devices reside. Until a vendor patch is available, avoid performing firmware upgrades over unsecured or untrusted networks. Use encrypted tunnels (e.g., VPNs) if remote firmware upgrades are necessary. Monitor network traffic for unusual activity during upgrade procedures to detect potential interception attempts. Additionally, enforce strong physical security controls to prevent unauthorized local network access. Organizations should engage with Cognex support to obtain information on forthcoming patches or mitigations and plan timely firmware updates once available. Implement multi-factor authentication for device management interfaces if supported, and regularly audit device configurations and credentials. Finally, incorporate these devices into broader industrial cybersecurity frameworks and incident response plans to ensure rapid detection and containment of any compromise.