CVE-2025-47901 identifies an OS Command Injection vulnerability in the Microchip Time Provider 4100, a device used for precise network time synchronization. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements in OS commands (CWE-78), allowing an attacker to inject and execute arbitrary OS commands on the affected device. This flaw affects all versions before 2.5 of the Time Provider 4100. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates an attack vector of adjacent network (AV:A), low attack complexity (AC:L), partial authentication required (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and very high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (VC:H/VI:H/VA:H). The vulnerability’s scope is high, meaning it can affect components beyond the initially vulnerable one. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the potential for severe impact exists due to the device’s role in network infrastructure. The vulnerability could allow attackers to disrupt time synchronization services, execute arbitrary commands, and potentially pivot to other network segments. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates immediate risk mitigation through network segmentation and access controls.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-47901 is significant due to the critical role of time synchronization in network operations, security protocols, and industrial control systems. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized command execution, resulting in service disruption, data tampering, or lateral movement within networks. This can affect sectors such as telecommunications, energy, manufacturing, and finance, where precise timing is essential. Disruption of time services can cause failures in logging, authentication, and transaction processing, undermining operational integrity and compliance with regulatory requirements like GDPR. The high severity and broad scope increase the risk of widespread operational impact, especially in environments where Microchip Time Provider 4100 devices are deployed at scale or integrated into critical infrastructure.

1. Monitor Microchip’s advisories closely and apply official patches or firmware updates immediately upon release. 2. Restrict network access to Time Provider 4100 management interfaces using firewalls and network segmentation, limiting access to trusted administrators only. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on any interfaces that accept user or network input to prevent injection of malicious commands. 4. Employ network intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to identify and block suspicious command injection attempts. 5. Regularly audit device configurations and logs for signs of unauthorized access or command execution. 6. Consider isolating time synchronization devices on dedicated management VLANs to reduce exposure. 7. Develop incident response plans specific to time synchronization infrastructure compromise scenarios. 8. Educate network and security teams about the risks and signs of OS command injection attacks.