CVE-2025-52694 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability identified in Advantech's IoTSuite and IoT Edge product lines. The flaw exists in versions prior to IoTSuite SaaSComposer 3.4.15 and IoTSuite Growth, Starter Linux dockers, and IoT Edge Linux and Windows dockers prior to version 2.0.2. This vulnerability allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to inject and execute arbitrary SQL commands on the backend database of the vulnerable service when it is exposed to the Internet. The attack vector requires no privileges or user interaction, making exploitation straightforward and highly impactful. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system, as attackers can manipulate or exfiltrate sensitive data, corrupt databases, or disrupt service availability. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 10.0, reflecting the critical nature of this vulnerability with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and complete impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the severity and ease of exploitation make it a prime target for attackers. Advantech IoTSuite and IoT Edge products are widely used in industrial IoT environments, including manufacturing, smart cities, and critical infrastructure, increasing the potential impact of this vulnerability.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-52694 could be severe. Many industries across Europe rely on Advantech IoT solutions for operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems (ICS). Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive operational data, manipulation of industrial processes, and disruption of critical services. This could result in significant financial losses, safety risks, regulatory penalties under GDPR and NIS Directive, and damage to reputation. The vulnerability's ability to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability simultaneously means attackers could steal intellectual property, alter production parameters, or cause downtime. Organizations with Internet-exposed Advantech IoT services are particularly vulnerable to remote attacks. The lack of authentication requirement increases the risk of automated scanning and exploitation campaigns. Given the criticality of industrial sectors in Europe, such as automotive, energy, and manufacturing, the threat could have cascading effects on supply chains and critical infrastructure.

To mitigate CVE-2025-52694, European organizations should immediately upgrade all affected Advantech IoTSuite and IoT Edge products to the fixed versions: IoTSuite SaaSComposer 3.4.15 or later, and IoTSuite Growth, Starter Linux dockers, and IoT Edge Linux and Windows dockers version 2.0.2 or later. Until patches are applied, organizations should restrict Internet exposure of these services by implementing network segmentation and firewall rules to limit access to trusted internal networks only. Employing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with SQL injection detection can provide temporary protection. Conduct thorough audits to identify all instances of vulnerable products and verify patch status. Additionally, monitor network traffic and logs for unusual SQL queries or access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. Implement strict access controls and consider disabling unnecessary database functionalities to reduce attack surface. Finally, ensure incident response plans include procedures for IoT/OT environments to quickly contain and remediate potential breaches.