The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-65829 concerns the ESP32 system on a chip (SoC) embedded in Meatmeet basestation devices, which lacks the Secure Boot feature. Secure Boot is a security mechanism that ensures only authenticated and trusted firmware is executed during the device's startup process by establishing a chain of trust that verifies all mutable software components. The absence of Secure Boot means that an attacker who gains physical access to the device can flash modified or malicious firmware onto the ESP32 chip. This malicious firmware will then execute upon device startup, potentially allowing the attacker to fully compromise the device's functionality, manipulate data, or use the device as a foothold into broader network environments. The vulnerability does not require remote exploitation or user interaction but depends on physical access, which is a significant limitation but still critical in many operational contexts. No CVSS score has been assigned yet, and no known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability highlights a fundamental security design oversight in the Meatmeet basestation device's firmware protection, emphasizing the importance of hardware-rooted security features in IoT and embedded systems.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk particularly in sectors where Meatmeet basestation devices or ESP32-based IoT devices are deployed in physically accessible locations, such as manufacturing, logistics, smart buildings, and critical infrastructure. An attacker with physical access could install malicious firmware, leading to device takeover, data theft, disruption of services, or use of the compromised device as a pivot point for lateral movement within the network. This could result in operational downtime, loss of sensitive information, and potential safety hazards if the devices control physical processes. The impact is amplified in environments with limited physical security or where devices are deployed in public or semi-public spaces. Additionally, compromised devices could undermine trust in IoT deployments and cause regulatory compliance issues under frameworks like GDPR if personal data is affected.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should: 1) Implement hardware or firmware updates that enable Secure Boot on ESP32 devices if available from the vendor or consider replacing affected devices with models supporting Secure Boot. 2) Enforce strict physical security controls to prevent unauthorized access to devices, including locked enclosures, surveillance, and access logging. 3) Employ tamper detection mechanisms and monitor device integrity regularly to detect unauthorized firmware changes. 4) Segment networks to limit the impact of compromised devices and restrict their communication to only necessary endpoints. 5) Work with Meatmeet and ESP32 vendors to obtain patches or firmware updates that address this security gap. 6) Conduct regular security audits and penetration tests focusing on physical security and device firmware integrity. 7) Educate staff about the risks of physical tampering and establish incident response procedures for suspected device compromise.