CVE-2025-68920 is a critical vulnerability identified in the C-Kermit software, a widely used file transfer and management tool that supports the Kermit protocol. The vulnerability exists in versions up to 10.0 Beta.12 (including version 7), where the software fails to enforce proper authorization checks (CWE-862) during remote file operations. Specifically, a remote Kermit system can exploit this flaw to overwrite arbitrary files on the local system or retrieve any files without requiring authentication or user interaction. This is due to missing or insufficient authorization controls in the file transfer mechanisms of C-Kermit. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.9, indicating high severity, with the vector string AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:L. This means the attack is network-based, requires high attack complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, and affects confidentiality and integrity at a high level, with a limited impact on availability. The scope is changed, indicating that the vulnerability affects components beyond the initially vulnerable module. No patches are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the potential for exploitation is significant given the nature of the flaw. The vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive files or disrupt system integrity by overwriting critical files, potentially leading to data breaches or system compromise. This is particularly concerning for organizations that rely on C-Kermit for secure file transfers in operational environments.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-68920 could be substantial, especially in sectors such as telecommunications, government, research institutions, and industrial control systems where C-Kermit might still be in use for legacy or specialized communication needs. Unauthorized file overwriting can lead to data corruption, loss of critical configuration files, or insertion of malicious payloads, compromising system integrity and availability. Unauthorized file retrieval threatens confidentiality, potentially exposing sensitive or regulated data subject to GDPR compliance. The high severity and network-based exploitability mean attackers could remotely compromise systems without needing credentials or user interaction, increasing the risk of widespread impact. Disruption or data leakage could result in operational downtime, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage. Given the lack of known exploits currently, proactive mitigation is essential to prevent future attacks. The vulnerability's presence in older or beta versions suggests that organizations running outdated software are particularly vulnerable.

1. Immediately inventory all systems running C-Kermit, especially versions up to 10.0 Beta.12 and version 7, to identify vulnerable installations. 2. Apply vendor patches or updates as soon as they become available; monitor official kermitproject channels for security advisories. 3. If patches are not yet available, restrict network access to C-Kermit services using firewalls or network segmentation to limit exposure to trusted hosts only. 4. Implement strict access controls and monitoring on systems running C-Kermit to detect unusual file access or modification patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. Consider disabling or replacing C-Kermit with alternative secure file transfer solutions that enforce robust authorization and authentication mechanisms. 6. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focused on legacy communication protocols and software to identify similar authorization weaknesses. 7. Educate system administrators about the risks of running outdated or beta software in production environments and enforce patch management policies. 8. Employ intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) with signatures or heuristics tuned to detect anomalous Kermit protocol activities. 9. Maintain comprehensive backups of critical files to enable recovery in case of file overwriting or corruption. 10. Coordinate with European cybersecurity agencies for threat intelligence sharing and incident response support if exploitation is detected.