CVE-2025-54765 is a vulnerability identified in Xorux's XorMon-NG appliance version 1.8, classified under CWE-648 (Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs). The issue stems from an API endpoint designed to be accessible only by web application administrators but is inadvertently accessible to lower-privileged read-only users. This endpoint allows importing the appliance configuration, which can be exploited by an attacker to alter the device’s configuration, including granting themselves administrative privileges. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction and can be exploited remotely over the network, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). The CVSS score of 5.3 reflects a medium severity primarily due to the limited impact on confidentiality and no direct impact on integrity or availability, but the potential for privilege escalation is significant. No patches or known exploits are currently available, highlighting the need for proactive mitigation. The root cause is improper access control on privileged API endpoints, which is a common security oversight in web applications managing critical infrastructure. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could gain full control over the appliance, potentially disrupting monitoring capabilities or using the device as a foothold for further network compromise.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized privilege escalation within XorMon-NG appliances, potentially leading to full administrative control over the monitoring infrastructure. This could disrupt operational monitoring, degrade incident response capabilities, or allow attackers to manipulate monitoring data to hide malicious activities. Organizations in sectors such as energy, telecommunications, finance, and government, which rely heavily on network monitoring appliances, could face operational disruptions and increased risk of broader network compromise. The lack of authentication requirement and ease of exploitation increase the threat level, especially in environments where XorMon-NG is exposed to untrusted networks. Additionally, unauthorized configuration changes could lead to compliance violations under European data protection and cybersecurity regulations, such as GDPR and NIS Directive. The medium CVSS score suggests moderate urgency, but the potential for privilege escalation and control over critical infrastructure components elevates the practical risk.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should immediately audit access controls on XorMon-NG appliances, ensuring that privileged API endpoints are strictly restricted to authorized administrators only. Network segmentation should be employed to limit access to management interfaces to trusted internal networks. Implement strong role-based access control (RBAC) policies and verify that read-only users cannot access administrative functions. Where possible, deploy web application firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block unauthorized API calls. Monitor logs and configuration changes closely for signs of unauthorized access or privilege escalation attempts. Since no official patches are currently available, consider disabling or restricting the vulnerable API endpoint until a vendor fix is released. Engage with Xorux support for updates and apply patches promptly once available. Additionally, conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on API security to detect similar issues proactively.