CVE-2025-9962 is a critical security vulnerability identified in the Novakon P series industrial controllers, specifically affecting version P – V2001.A.c518o2. The vulnerability is classified as a classic buffer overflow (CWE-120), where the software fails to properly check the size of input data before copying it into a buffer. This flaw allows an attacker to overwrite memory, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with root privileges. Notably, exploitation does not require any prior authentication or user interaction, significantly lowering the barrier for attackers. The vulnerability affects core system components, enabling full system compromise, including control over device operations and data confidentiality. The CVSS v4.0 score of 10.0 reflects the highest severity, with network attack vector, no required privileges, and no user interaction needed. While no public exploits have been reported yet, the critical nature and ease of exploitation make this a high-risk vulnerability. Novakon P series devices are commonly used in industrial automation and critical infrastructure environments, where such a compromise could disrupt operations or cause safety hazards. The absence of a patch at the time of publication necessitates immediate risk mitigation strategies to protect affected systems.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-9962 is substantial. Industrial sectors relying on Novakon P series controllers—such as manufacturing, energy, utilities, and transportation—face risks of operational disruption, data breaches, and potential safety incidents due to unauthorized root access. Compromise of these devices could lead to loss of control over critical processes, enabling attackers to manipulate or halt production lines, cause physical damage, or exfiltrate sensitive operational data. The vulnerability’s ability to be exploited remotely without authentication increases the likelihood of widespread attacks, potentially affecting supply chains and critical infrastructure. Given the strategic importance of industrial automation in Europe’s economy and infrastructure, this vulnerability could have cascading effects on national security and economic stability if exploited. Additionally, regulatory compliance frameworks such as NIS2 may impose reporting and remediation obligations, increasing the operational and legal impact for affected entities.

Until an official patch is released by Novakon, European organizations should implement several targeted mitigations: 1) Isolate Novakon P series devices on dedicated network segments with strict access controls to limit exposure to untrusted networks. 2) Employ network intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) tuned to detect anomalous traffic patterns or exploitation attempts targeting buffer overflow behaviors. 3) Restrict remote access to these devices using VPNs with multi-factor authentication and limit administrative interfaces to trusted hosts only. 4) Conduct thorough asset inventories to identify all affected Novakon P series devices and prioritize them for monitoring and eventual patching. 5) Implement application-layer firewalls or protocol whitelisting to block unexpected or malformed input that could trigger the overflow. 6) Engage with Novakon support channels for early patch notifications and guidance. 7) Develop and test incident response plans specific to industrial control system compromises to ensure rapid containment and recovery. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on network segmentation, access restriction, and proactive detection tailored to industrial environments.