CVE-2025-61976 is a vulnerability identified in the CHOCO TEI WATCHER mini (IB-MCT001), a product by Inaba Denki Sangyo Co., Ltd. The issue stems from an improper check for unusual or exceptional conditions within the device's Video Download interface. Specifically, when a remote attacker sends a specially crafted request to this interface, the device fails to handle the input correctly, leading to a state where the system becomes unresponsive. This effectively results in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability affects all versions of the product and can be exploited remotely without requiring any authentication or user interaction, increasing the risk profile. The CVSS v3.0 base score is 7.5, categorized as high severity, primarily due to the impact on availability (A:H) while confidentiality and integrity remain unaffected. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L), and no privileges required (PR:N). Although no exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the vulnerability's characteristics make it a plausible target for attackers aiming to disrupt operations. The device is likely used in environments requiring video monitoring or recording, where availability is critical. The improper handling of exceptional conditions suggests a flaw in input validation or error management within the Video Download interface, which could be due to buffer overflows, resource exhaustion, or unhandled exceptions. The lack of vendor patches at the time of publication necessitates interim defensive measures.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-61976 is on the availability of the CHOCO TEI WATCHER mini devices, leading to denial of service. For European organizations, particularly those relying on these devices for video surveillance, monitoring, or security operations, this could result in significant operational disruptions. Loss of video feed availability may impair physical security monitoring, incident response, and compliance with regulatory requirements for surveillance. Critical infrastructure sectors such as transportation, manufacturing, and public safety that deploy these devices could face increased risk exposure. Additionally, prolonged unavailability could lead to financial losses, reputational damage, and potential safety hazards. Since the vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or integrity, data breaches or manipulation are less likely. However, the ease of remote exploitation without authentication increases the risk of widespread disruption if attackers target these devices en masse. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for mitigation, but the threat remains significant given the device’s role in security environments.

1. Network Segmentation: Isolate CHOCO TEI WATCHER mini devices on dedicated network segments with strict access controls to limit exposure to untrusted networks. 2. Access Control: Restrict access to the Video Download interface to trusted IP addresses only, using firewall rules or network ACLs. 3. Monitoring and Detection: Implement network monitoring to detect unusual or malformed requests targeting the Video Download interface, enabling early detection of exploitation attempts. 4. Vendor Coordination: Engage with Inaba Denki Sangyo Co., Ltd. to obtain patches or firmware updates addressing the vulnerability as soon as they become available. 5. Incident Response Preparation: Develop and test response plans for potential denial of service incidents involving these devices to minimize operational impact. 6. Device Hardening: Disable or restrict unused interfaces and services on the device to reduce the attack surface. 7. Regular Updates: Maintain an inventory of deployed devices and ensure timely application of security updates once released. 8. Alternative Solutions: Where feasible, consider deploying alternative devices with stronger security postures until patches are available.