The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-65825 concerns the Meatmeet basestation device firmware, which is stored without encryption. This lack of encryption allows an adversary who gains physical access to the device to disassemble it and connect directly to its UART interface. Through this connection, the attacker can dump the entire firmware, including the NVS (Non-Volatile Storage) partition. The NVS partition contains sensitive data such as credentials for the current and previous Wi-Fi networks the device has connected to. By extracting these credentials, the attacker can gain unauthorized access to the victim's Wi-Fi networks, potentially enabling further network exploitation or lateral movement within the victim's environment. The vulnerability does not require remote exploitation or user interaction but does require physical access, which limits the attack surface but increases the risk in environments where physical security is weak. No patches or firmware updates have been published yet, and there are no known exploits in the wild. The absence of encryption on firmware storage is a critical design flaw that exposes sensitive information and undermines network security. This vulnerability highlights the importance of securing IoT devices not only logically but also physically and cryptographically.

For European organizations, this vulnerability presents a significant risk especially in sectors where Meatmeet devices are deployed, such as smart buildings, retail, or industrial IoT environments. Unauthorized access to Wi-Fi credentials can lead to network compromise, data exfiltration, or further attacks on connected systems. Organizations with lax physical security controls are particularly vulnerable. The exposure of previous Wi-Fi credentials increases the attack window even if the current network is changed. This can undermine confidentiality and integrity of corporate networks and potentially disrupt availability if attackers leverage network access for denial-of-service or ransomware attacks. Critical infrastructure operators using these devices may face increased risk of espionage or sabotage. The lack of encryption and absence of firmware integrity checks could also facilitate firmware tampering or cloning attacks if the attacker modifies the firmware after extraction. Overall, the threat could lead to significant operational and reputational damage if exploited.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should implement strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized access to Meatmeet devices, including locked enclosures and surveillance. Network segmentation should isolate IoT devices from sensitive internal networks to limit lateral movement if credentials are compromised. Organizations should monitor network traffic for unusual access patterns indicative of unauthorized Wi-Fi usage. Until a firmware patch or update is available, consider disabling or replacing vulnerable devices in high-risk environments. Employ strong Wi-Fi security protocols (WPA3) and rotate Wi-Fi credentials regularly to reduce the impact of credential exposure. Additionally, organizations should advocate with the vendor for encrypted firmware storage and secure boot mechanisms to prevent firmware dumping and tampering. Conduct regular security audits of IoT deployments and maintain an inventory of devices with known vulnerabilities for prioritized remediation.