CVE-2025-5087 is a vulnerability identified in the Kaleris Navis N4 Ultra Light Client (ULC), a software product used primarily in terminal operating systems and logistics management. The vulnerability arises from the use of insecure communication protocols: the Navis N4 ULC transmits data compressed with zlib over unencrypted HTTP connections. This cleartext transmission allows an attacker with network visibility—such as someone positioned on the same network segment or capable of intercepting traffic—to capture sensitive information, including plaintext credentials. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-319, which pertains to the cleartext transmission of sensitive information. The CVSS v4.0 base score is 6.0, indicating a medium severity level. The vector indicates that the attack requires network access (AV:N), has high attack complexity (AC:H), no privileges required (PR:N), and user interaction is needed (UI:P). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (VC:H) but not integrity or availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been published as of the date of disclosure. The affected version is listed as '0', which likely indicates an initial or baseline version of the product. The core technical issue is the lack of encryption or secure transport layer protocols (such as TLS) protecting sensitive data in transit, making it susceptible to passive eavesdropping attacks. This is particularly critical in environments where credentials or other sensitive operational data are transmitted, as interception could lead to unauthorized access or further compromise of the logistics infrastructure.

For European organizations, especially those involved in port operations, shipping logistics, and supply chain management, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of operational credentials and sensitive data. Exposure of plaintext credentials could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to terminal operating systems, potentially disrupting logistics workflows or enabling further lateral movement within corporate networks. Given the strategic importance of maritime and logistics hubs in Europe—such as the ports of Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, and others—compromise of Navis N4 systems could have cascading effects on supply chains and economic activities. While the vulnerability does not directly impact system integrity or availability, the compromise of credentials can lead to indirect impacts including data manipulation or service disruption. The medium CVSS score reflects the requirement for user interaction and high attack complexity, which somewhat limits the ease of exploitation; however, in environments with high network exposure or insufficient segmentation, the risk increases. The lack of encryption also raises compliance concerns under GDPR and other European data protection regulations, as sensitive information is transmitted insecurely.

1. Immediate implementation of network segmentation and isolation for Navis N4 Ultra Light Clients to limit exposure to untrusted networks and reduce the risk of traffic interception. 2. Deployment of VPNs or secure tunnels (e.g., IPsec) to encrypt traffic between clients and servers until an official patch or secure update is available. 3. Configuration changes to disable or restrict the use of the Ultra Light Client where possible, or enforce usage only within trusted internal networks. 4. Monitoring and logging of network traffic for unusual access patterns or repeated authentication failures that might indicate interception attempts. 5. Engage with Kaleris for timely updates or patches that implement secure transport protocols such as HTTPS/TLS for all client-server communications. 6. Conduct regular security awareness training for users to minimize risky behaviors that could facilitate exploitation, given the requirement for user interaction. 7. Review and rotate credentials used by Navis N4 clients to limit the window of exposure if credentials are compromised. 8. Perform penetration testing and vulnerability assessments focused on network traffic interception risks within the operational environment.