CVE-2025-53842 is a vulnerability identified in the ZEXELON CO., LTD. ZWX-2000CSW2-HN device, specifically affecting firmware versions prior to 0.3.19 and all versions of the ZWX-2000CS2-HN firmware. The core issue is the use of hard-coded credentials within the device's firmware, which allows an attacker who obtains these credentials to tamper with device settings. This vulnerability is a result of an insufficient fix for a previous vulnerability, CVE-2024-39838, indicating that the underlying problem was not fully resolved. The CVSS v3.0 base score is 4.5 (medium severity), with the vector AV:A/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. This means the attack requires adjacent network access, low attack complexity, high privileges, no user interaction, and impacts confidentiality with no effect on integrity or availability. The vulnerability allows an attacker with high privileges to gain unauthorized access to sensitive device configurations by exploiting hard-coded credentials, potentially leading to confidentiality breaches. Since the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability directly, the primary risk is unauthorized disclosure or exposure of sensitive information or configuration data. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the presence of hard-coded credentials is a significant security concern as it can be leveraged for persistent unauthorized access. The vulnerability affects networked devices, likely used in enterprise or industrial environments, where device configuration integrity and confidentiality are critical.

For European organizations, the exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to critical network devices, potentially exposing sensitive configuration data or enabling attackers to gather intelligence on network setups. Although the vulnerability does not directly impact device integrity or availability, the exposure of credentials can facilitate lateral movement or further attacks within the network. Organizations relying on ZEXELON devices for network management or industrial control may face increased risk of espionage or targeted attacks. Confidentiality breaches could lead to regulatory non-compliance under GDPR if personal or sensitive data configurations are exposed. Additionally, the presence of hard-coded credentials undermines trust in device security and could impact operational security, especially in sectors like manufacturing, utilities, or telecommunications where such devices might be deployed. The medium severity rating suggests a moderate risk, but the requirement for high privileges and adjacent network access somewhat limits the attack surface, making internal threat actors or compromised insiders more likely attackers than external remote adversaries.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize updating the affected ZEXELON devices to firmware version 0.3.19 or later, where the issue is presumably resolved. If immediate patching is not feasible, network segmentation should be implemented to restrict access to the devices, limiting exposure to only trusted administrators and systems. Strong network access controls, including multi-factor authentication for device management interfaces, should be enforced to reduce the risk posed by hard-coded credentials. Organizations should conduct audits to identify any devices running vulnerable firmware versions and replace or isolate them if updates are unavailable. Monitoring and logging of device access should be enhanced to detect any unauthorized attempts to use hard-coded credentials. Additionally, vendors should be engaged to provide secure firmware updates and confirm that the fix fully addresses the vulnerability without introducing regressions. Finally, organizations should review their incident response plans to include scenarios involving credential compromise in network devices.