CVE-2025-2441 Overview
CVE-2025-2441 is an insecure default initialization vulnerability [CWE-1188] affecting a Schneider Electric radio product. The flaw allows a physically present attacker to reset the radio to factory default mode. During this reset, the product fails to correctly initialize all data, leaving residual sensitive information accessible.
The issue leads to loss of confidentiality. Exploitation requires direct physical access to the device, which limits the population of attackers capable of triggering the condition. Schneider Electric documented the issue in security notice SEVD-2025-098-02.
Critical Impact
A malicious user with physical access can invoke factory default mode and recover residual data that should have been wiped, resulting in confidentiality loss.
Affected Products
- Schneider Electric radio product referenced in advisory SEVD-2025-098-02
- Refer to the vendor advisory for specific model numbers and firmware ranges
- No affected product enumeration was published in the National Vulnerability Database entry
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-09 - CVE-2025-2441 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in the NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-2441
Vulnerability Analysis
The weakness is categorized as CWE-1188: Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure Default. When an operator triggers the factory reset routine on the affected radio, the firmware is expected to zeroize configuration, credentials, and stored operational data. In this implementation, the routine does not clear every storage region.
An attacker who performs the reset can then read residual data from the device through legitimate provisioning or diagnostic interfaces. That data may include configuration parameters or previously stored operational information that supports further attack against the parent industrial system. The attack does not require authentication because the factory reset control is available to any user in physical contact with the unit.
Root Cause
The reset workflow assumes that reinitializing default parameters is sufficient. It does not invoke a full wipe of non-volatile storage regions that hold previously written data. Those regions retain values after the reset completes, breaking the confidentiality expectation of the factory default state.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires physical access to the device and a successful invocation of factory default mode. No network path, credentials, or user interaction beyond the physical reset action are needed. Because the exploit involves reading residual firmware state rather than sending crafted input, no proof-of-concept exploit code is applicable. Technical exploitation details are described in the Schneider Electric advisory referenced below.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-2441
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected factory reset events recorded in device logs or supervisory control systems
- Physical tamper indicators on the radio enclosure, such as broken seals or reset button use
- Configuration drift observed after a maintenance window that did not authorize a reset
Detection Strategies
- Correlate physical access logs from the site with radio configuration change events
- Alert on any transition to factory default state outside a scheduled maintenance change ticket
- Baseline device state at commissioning and compare periodically to detect residual data anomalies
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable and forward audit logs from the radio and its supervisory controller to a central log store
- Monitor SCADA and industrial network telemetry for reappearance of a device in provisioning mode
- Review physical access control system records for entries to areas housing affected radios
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-2441
Immediate Actions Required
- Inventory all Schneider Electric radios covered by advisory SEVD-2025-098-02
- Restrict physical access to installation sites and locking enclosures around exposed devices
- Apply the vendor remediation or configuration guidance published in the advisory
Patch Information
Schneider Electric publishes fixes and mitigation guidance in the Schneider Electric Security Notice SEVD-2025-098-02. Review the notice for the fixed firmware version and vendor recommended procedures for existing deployments.
Workarounds
- Enforce tamper-evident enclosures and locked cabinets around affected radios
- Require change control approval and dual authorization for any factory reset action
- Wipe or securely dispose of decommissioned radios before removing them from a controlled site
- Audit device configuration after any reset to confirm no residual data remains
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
