CVE-2025-65829 identifies a security vulnerability in the ESP32 system on a chip (SoC) embedded within Meatmeet basestation devices. The core issue is the absence of Secure Boot, a critical security feature designed to ensure that only authenticated and trusted firmware can execute on the device. Secure Boot establishes a chain of trust by cryptographically verifying each mutable software component during the application startup sequence. Without this mechanism, an attacker who gains physical access to the device can flash modified or malicious firmware onto the ESP32, which will then execute upon device startup. This compromises the device’s confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as the attacker can run arbitrary code, potentially leading to data theft, device manipulation, or denial of service. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code), indicating risks related to unauthorized code execution. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.8 (medium severity), reflecting the requirement for physical access (AV:P), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges or user interaction needed (PR:N/UI:N), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). No patches or mitigations have been officially released, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. This vulnerability primarily affects devices running on ESP32 SoCs without Secure Boot enabled, specifically the Meatmeet basestation devices, which are used in IoT and industrial contexts.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk particularly in sectors deploying Meatmeet basestation devices for IoT, industrial automation, or critical infrastructure monitoring. An attacker with physical access can compromise device firmware, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, manipulation of device functions, or complete device failure. This can disrupt operational continuity, cause data breaches, and undermine trust in IoT deployments. The impact is heightened in environments where devices are deployed in less physically secure locations or where device integrity is critical for safety or regulatory compliance. Additionally, compromised devices could be leveraged as footholds for lateral movement within networks, increasing the overall risk posture. The absence of Secure Boot also means that firmware updates cannot be reliably trusted, complicating incident response and recovery. Given the medium severity and requirement for physical access, the threat is more relevant to organizations with distributed or remotely located devices rather than those with tightly controlled hardware environments.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should prioritize the following actions: 1) Engage with Meatmeet and ESP32 vendors to obtain firmware updates or patches that enable Secure Boot or equivalent firmware authentication mechanisms. 2) If no official patch is available, consider custom firmware development or configuration changes to implement Secure Boot or cryptographic verification during device startup. 3) Enhance physical security controls around devices, including locked enclosures, tamper-evident seals, and restricted access to device locations to prevent unauthorized physical access. 4) Implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous device behavior indicative of compromise. 5) Establish strict inventory and asset management to quickly identify affected devices and prioritize remediation. 6) Develop incident response plans that include procedures for compromised IoT devices, including device replacement or reimaging. 7) Educate operational staff on the risks of physical tampering and the importance of reporting suspicious activity. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on both technical and physical controls tailored to the nature of the vulnerability and the device deployment context.