CVE-2025-59405 identifies a critical security flaw in the Flock Safety Peripheral Android application version 7.38.3, which is deployed on Falcon and Sparrow License Plate Readers and Bravo Edge AI Compute Devices. The vulnerability arises from the inclusion of a cleartext DataDog API key within the app's codebase. Since Android application binaries can be easily decompiled or inspected using publicly available tools, an attacker can extract this OAuth secret without needing any special privileges or user interaction. The exposed API key is intended to remain confidential as it grants access to DataDog's monitoring and logging services, which may contain sensitive operational data or allow attackers to manipulate monitoring configurations. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.5, indicating high severity due to network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and a significant confidentiality impact. Although no exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the ease of extraction and potential misuse of the API key make this a serious threat. The lack of patches or mitigation links suggests that affected organizations must proactively address this issue by removing embedded secrets and adopting secure secret management solutions. The affected devices are commonly used in law enforcement and smart city environments, increasing the risk of sensitive data exposure and operational disruption if exploited.

For European organizations, especially those involved in law enforcement, smart city infrastructure, or traffic monitoring, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive monitoring data collected by license plate readers and AI compute devices. Attackers leveraging the exposed DataDog API key could access logs, telemetry, or configuration data, potentially gaining insights into surveillance operations or disrupting monitoring capabilities. This could result in confidentiality breaches, loss of trust, and operational challenges. Additionally, if attackers manipulate monitoring data or configurations, it could impair incident detection and response. The impact is particularly significant for public safety agencies and municipalities relying on these devices for security and traffic management. Furthermore, the exposure of such secrets could facilitate further attacks or lateral movement within networks if combined with other vulnerabilities. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for mitigation, but the ease of key extraction means the threat could materialize rapidly once discovered by malicious actors.

Organizations should immediately audit their deployments of the Flock Safety Peripheral Android application and related devices to identify affected versions. The primary mitigation is to remove any hardcoded API keys or secrets from client-side applications. Instead, secrets should be stored securely on backend servers or retrieved dynamically through secure authentication mechanisms. Implementing environment-based configuration and secret vaults (e.g., HashiCorp Vault, AWS Secrets Manager) is recommended. Additionally, rotate the exposed DataDog API keys immediately to invalidate compromised credentials. Monitor DataDog account activity for any unauthorized access or anomalies. Employ application hardening techniques such as code obfuscation and integrity checks to reduce the risk of reverse engineering. Finally, engage with the vendor for official patches or updates that address this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. Network segmentation and strict access controls around monitoring infrastructure can further limit the impact of potential exploitation.