The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-65822 affects the ESP32 system on a chip (SoC) integrated into the Meatmeet Pro device. The root cause is that JTAG debugging functionality remains enabled in the production device. JTAG is a hardware interface used primarily for debugging and programming embedded devices. When enabled, it allows direct access to the device's internal memory and processor, enabling firmware reflashing. An attacker with physical access to the device can connect to the exposed JTAG port and upload malicious firmware. This malicious firmware can disrupt the device's intended functionality, effectively locking out the legitimate user. Additionally, the attacker can extract or manipulate the device's stored Wi-Fi credentials (SSID and possibly passwords) from the non-volatile storage (NVS partition) and use them to gain unauthorized access to the victim's Wi-Fi network. This creates a secondary attack vector that compromises network confidentiality and potentially other connected systems. The vulnerability does not require remote access or user interaction but does require physical access to the device, which limits the attack scope but does not eliminate the risk in environments where devices are accessible. No patches or mitigations have been officially published yet, and no exploits are currently known in the wild. The lack of a CVSS score necessitates an independent severity assessment.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant threat particularly to those deploying Meatmeet Pro devices or other ESP32-based embedded systems in environments where physical security cannot be guaranteed. The direct impact includes loss of device functionality, which could disrupt business operations relying on these devices. More critically, the ability to extract Wi-Fi credentials and gain unauthorized network access threatens the confidentiality and integrity of corporate networks. This could lead to lateral movement by attackers, data exfiltration, or further compromise of connected systems. Organizations in sectors such as manufacturing, smart building management, healthcare, and retail that utilize IoT devices with ESP32 chips are particularly vulnerable. The physical access requirement means that insider threats or attackers with temporary physical presence pose the greatest risk. The absence of known exploits in the wild suggests the threat is currently theoretical but could become practical if attackers develop tools to exploit this vulnerability. The impact on availability, confidentiality, and integrity combined with the potential for network compromise makes this a high-risk vulnerability for affected organizations.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should first ensure that JTAG debugging is disabled on all production ESP32 devices, including the Meatmeet Pro. This may require firmware updates or configuration changes during manufacturing or device provisioning. Physical security controls must be enhanced to restrict unauthorized access to devices, including locked enclosures, surveillance, and access logging. Network segmentation should be employed to isolate IoT devices from critical network segments, limiting the impact of any compromised device. Organizations should audit their deployed devices to identify any with JTAG enabled and replace or reconfigure them as necessary. Monitoring for unusual network activity, especially connections originating from IoT devices, can help detect exploitation attempts. If possible, implement secure boot and firmware signing on ESP32 devices to prevent unauthorized firmware reflashing. Finally, vendors should be engaged to provide patches or updated hardware revisions that disable JTAG by default in production units.