CVE-2025-54465: CWE-798: Use of Hard-coded Credentials in ZKTeco Co WL20 Biometric Attendance System
This vulnerability exists in ZKTeco WL20 due to hard-coded MQTT credentials and endpoints stored in plaintext within the device firmware. An attacker with physical access could exploit this vulnerability by extracting the firmware and analyzing the binary data to retrieve the hard-coded MQTT credentials and endpoints from the targeted device. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow the attacker to gain unauthorized access to the MQTT broker and manipulate the communications of the targeted device.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2025-54465 is a vulnerability identified in the ZKTeco WL20 Biometric Attendance System, specifically affecting firmware versions up to and including ZLM31-FXO1-3.1.8. The core issue arises from the presence of hard-coded MQTT credentials and endpoints stored in plaintext within the device firmware. MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) is a lightweight messaging protocol commonly used for IoT and embedded devices to communicate with brokers. In this case, the hard-coded credentials embedded in the firmware allow an attacker with physical access to the device to extract the firmware image, analyze the binary data, and retrieve these credentials. Once obtained, the attacker can gain unauthorized access to the MQTT broker that manages communications for the device. This unauthorized access could allow manipulation of device communications, potentially leading to data tampering, unauthorized command execution, or disruption of attendance data integrity. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-798, which relates to the use of hard-coded credentials, a known security anti-pattern that significantly weakens device security. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.8 (medium severity), reflecting that exploitation requires physical access (Attack Vector: Physical), but no privileges or user interaction are needed. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity of communications (high impact), but not availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been released yet. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because biometric attendance systems are often deployed in enterprise and organizational environments, where attendance data integrity and device trustworthiness are critical. The presence of hard-coded credentials in firmware represents a systemic design flaw that could be exploited by insiders or attackers with physical access to the device, such as during maintenance or theft.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the integrity and confidentiality of attendance and access control data. Manipulation of MQTT communications could allow attackers to falsify attendance records, disrupt workforce management, or gain indirect access to broader network segments if the MQTT broker is connected to other systems. This could lead to compliance violations, especially under GDPR, if personal biometric data is compromised or manipulated. Additionally, unauthorized control over attendance systems could undermine physical security policies and trust in biometric authentication. Organizations in sectors such as manufacturing, education, healthcare, and government—where biometric attendance systems are commonly deployed—may face operational disruptions and reputational damage. The requirement for physical access limits remote exploitation but raises concerns about insider threats or physical security lapses. Given the lack of patches, organizations must be vigilant in controlling physical access to devices and monitoring MQTT broker activity for anomalies.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Physical Security: Strengthen physical security controls around biometric attendance devices to prevent unauthorized access or tampering. 2. Network Segmentation: Isolate the MQTT broker and attendance devices on dedicated network segments with strict access controls to limit exposure. 3. Monitor MQTT Traffic: Implement logging and anomaly detection on MQTT communications to identify unauthorized access or manipulation attempts. 4. Firmware Integrity Checks: Regularly verify device firmware integrity to detect unauthorized modifications or extraction attempts. 5. Vendor Engagement: Engage with ZKTeco Co to request firmware updates or patches that remove hard-coded credentials and implement secure credential storage mechanisms. 6. Credential Rotation: If possible, change MQTT credentials post-deployment and avoid using default or hard-coded credentials. 7. Incident Response Planning: Prepare response plans for potential compromise scenarios involving biometric systems, including forensic analysis and data integrity verification. 8. Device Replacement: Consider replacing vulnerable devices with models that follow secure development practices if patches are unavailable in a timely manner.
Affected Countries
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Belgium, Sweden, Austria
CVE-2025-54465: CWE-798: Use of Hard-coded Credentials in ZKTeco Co WL20 Biometric Attendance System
Description
This vulnerability exists in ZKTeco WL20 due to hard-coded MQTT credentials and endpoints stored in plaintext within the device firmware. An attacker with physical access could exploit this vulnerability by extracting the firmware and analyzing the binary data to retrieve the hard-coded MQTT credentials and endpoints from the targeted device. Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow the attacker to gain unauthorized access to the MQTT broker and manipulate the communications of the targeted device.
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
CVE-2025-54465 is a vulnerability identified in the ZKTeco WL20 Biometric Attendance System, specifically affecting firmware versions up to and including ZLM31-FXO1-3.1.8. The core issue arises from the presence of hard-coded MQTT credentials and endpoints stored in plaintext within the device firmware. MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) is a lightweight messaging protocol commonly used for IoT and embedded devices to communicate with brokers. In this case, the hard-coded credentials embedded in the firmware allow an attacker with physical access to the device to extract the firmware image, analyze the binary data, and retrieve these credentials. Once obtained, the attacker can gain unauthorized access to the MQTT broker that manages communications for the device. This unauthorized access could allow manipulation of device communications, potentially leading to data tampering, unauthorized command execution, or disruption of attendance data integrity. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-798, which relates to the use of hard-coded credentials, a known security anti-pattern that significantly weakens device security. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 6.8 (medium severity), reflecting that exploitation requires physical access (Attack Vector: Physical), but no privileges or user interaction are needed. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality and integrity of communications (high impact), but not availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been released yet. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because biometric attendance systems are often deployed in enterprise and organizational environments, where attendance data integrity and device trustworthiness are critical. The presence of hard-coded credentials in firmware represents a systemic design flaw that could be exploited by insiders or attackers with physical access to the device, such as during maintenance or theft.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the integrity and confidentiality of attendance and access control data. Manipulation of MQTT communications could allow attackers to falsify attendance records, disrupt workforce management, or gain indirect access to broader network segments if the MQTT broker is connected to other systems. This could lead to compliance violations, especially under GDPR, if personal biometric data is compromised or manipulated. Additionally, unauthorized control over attendance systems could undermine physical security policies and trust in biometric authentication. Organizations in sectors such as manufacturing, education, healthcare, and government—where biometric attendance systems are commonly deployed—may face operational disruptions and reputational damage. The requirement for physical access limits remote exploitation but raises concerns about insider threats or physical security lapses. Given the lack of patches, organizations must be vigilant in controlling physical access to devices and monitoring MQTT broker activity for anomalies.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Physical Security: Strengthen physical security controls around biometric attendance devices to prevent unauthorized access or tampering. 2. Network Segmentation: Isolate the MQTT broker and attendance devices on dedicated network segments with strict access controls to limit exposure. 3. Monitor MQTT Traffic: Implement logging and anomaly detection on MQTT communications to identify unauthorized access or manipulation attempts. 4. Firmware Integrity Checks: Regularly verify device firmware integrity to detect unauthorized modifications or extraction attempts. 5. Vendor Engagement: Engage with ZKTeco Co to request firmware updates or patches that remove hard-coded credentials and implement secure credential storage mechanisms. 6. Credential Rotation: If possible, change MQTT credentials post-deployment and avoid using default or hard-coded credentials. 7. Incident Response Planning: Prepare response plans for potential compromise scenarios involving biometric systems, including forensic analysis and data integrity verification. 8. Device Replacement: Consider replacing vulnerable devices with models that follow secure development practices if patches are unavailable in a timely manner.
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Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.1
- Assigner Short Name
- CERT-In
- Date Reserved
- 2025-07-22T08:56:34.299Z
- Cvss Version
- 4.0
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 689c7805ad5a09ad0040d55a
Added to database: 8/13/2025, 11:33:25 AM
Last enriched: 8/13/2025, 11:48:18 AM
Last updated: 8/13/2025, 5:06:56 PM
Views: 5
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