CVE-2025-6298 is a vulnerability identified in Axis Communications AB's AXIS OS version 12.0.0, specifically related to the ACAP (Axis Camera Application Platform) applications. The root cause is improper validation of the specified type of input, classified under CWE-1287. This flaw allows ACAP applications to gain elevated privileges, effectively enabling privilege escalation on the affected device. The vulnerability manifests only if the Axis device is configured to allow the installation of unsigned ACAP applications, which is not the default setting, and if an attacker successfully convinces a user or administrator to install a malicious ACAP application. Once installed, the malicious application can exploit the improper input validation to escalate privileges without requiring further user interaction. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.7, reflecting a medium severity level, with attack vector local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), high privileges required (PR:H), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). No public exploits are currently known, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating that mitigation relies on configuration management and cautious application installation practices. This vulnerability poses a significant risk to environments where unsigned ACAP applications are permitted, especially in critical infrastructure or surveillance contexts relying on Axis devices.

The vulnerability allows privilege escalation on Axis devices running AXIS OS 12.0.0, potentially leading to full system compromise. This can result in unauthorized access to sensitive video feeds, tampering with device configurations, or denial of service by disrupting device operations. Confidentiality is at risk as attackers could access or exfiltrate sensitive surveillance data. Integrity is compromised because attackers can alter device behavior or firmware. Availability is also threatened if attackers disable or crash devices. Organizations relying on these devices for security monitoring or critical infrastructure protection could face operational disruptions, data breaches, and loss of trust. The requirement for installation of unsigned ACAP apps limits the attack surface but insider threats or social engineering could enable exploitation. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but also means attackers could develop exploits in the future. Overall, the impact is significant for organizations using Axis devices with permissive ACAP application policies.

1. Immediately disable the installation of unsigned ACAP applications on all Axis devices to eliminate the primary exploitation vector. 2. Implement strict access controls and monitoring for ACAP application installations, ensuring only trusted and signed applications are deployed. 3. Educate administrators and users about the risks of installing unsigned or unverified ACAP applications to prevent social engineering attacks. 4. Monitor Axis device logs for unusual ACAP application installation attempts or privilege escalations. 5. Apply vendor patches or firmware updates as soon as they become available to address this vulnerability directly. 6. Employ network segmentation to isolate Axis devices from critical networks, limiting potential lateral movement if compromised. 7. Regularly audit device configurations to ensure compliance with security best practices, including disabling unnecessary features. 8. Consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous behavior on networked devices. These measures collectively reduce the risk of exploitation and limit the impact if an attack occurs.