CVE-2025-26344: Q-free Maxtime Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-26344 Overview

CVE-2025-26344 is a missing authentication vulnerability (CWE-306) affecting Q-Free MaxTime traffic management systems. The vulnerability exists in the maxprofile/guest-mode/routes.lua component, where critical guest mode functionality lacks proper authentication controls. An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this flaw to enable passwordless guest mode via crafted HTTP requests, potentially compromising the entire traffic management infrastructure.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can remotely enable passwordless guest mode, bypassing security controls and gaining unauthorized access to traffic management systems.

Affected Products

• Q-Free MaxTime versions 2.11.0 and earlier
• Traffic management systems running vulnerable MaxTime software
• Infrastructure utilizing Q-Free MaxTime for traffic control operations

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-02-12 - CVE CVE-2025-26344 published to NVD
• 2025-10-24 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-26344

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in Q-Free MaxTime traffic management systems. The affected component, maxprofile/guest-mode/routes.lua, handles guest mode configuration but fails to implement proper authentication checks before processing critical requests. This missing authentication allows remote attackers to manipulate the system's guest mode settings without any credentials.

Traffic management systems like Q-Free MaxTime are critical infrastructure components that control traffic signals, monitor traffic flow, and manage transportation networks. The ability to enable passwordless guest mode without authentication could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to these systems, potentially disrupting traffic operations or modifying critical configurations.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-26344 is a missing authentication check (CWE-306) in the routes.lua file within the guest mode profile functionality. The code path that handles guest mode activation does not verify whether the requesting party has valid credentials or authorization to perform this sensitive operation. This architectural flaw allows any network-accessible attacker to invoke the guest mode functionality directly.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker with network access to the Q-Free MaxTime system can send specially crafted HTTP requests to the vulnerable endpoint to enable passwordless guest mode. This attack path is particularly concerning because:

• The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network
• No prior authentication or privileges are required
• No user interaction is needed for successful exploitation
• Successful exploitation grants high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability

The vulnerable endpoint in maxprofile/guest-mode/routes.lua accepts HTTP requests that modify guest mode settings without validating the requester's identity or authorization level. An attacker can craft HTTP requests targeting this endpoint to enable passwordless guest mode, effectively bypassing the system's authentication mechanisms.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-26344

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected changes to guest mode configuration settings in Q-Free MaxTime systems
• HTTP requests to guest mode endpoints from unauthorized or unknown IP addresses
• Sudden enablement of passwordless guest mode without administrative action
• Authentication logs showing access without proper credential validation

Detection Strategies

• Monitor HTTP traffic to Q-Free MaxTime systems for requests targeting /maxprofile/guest-mode/ endpoints
• Implement network segmentation to restrict access to traffic management systems
• Deploy web application firewalls (WAF) to detect and block suspicious requests
• Enable comprehensive logging on MaxTime systems to track configuration changes

Monitoring Recommendations

• Regularly audit guest mode settings and configuration changes on MaxTime systems
• Implement alerting for any changes to authentication or guest mode settings
• Review access logs for the routes.lua endpoint for anomalous patterns
• Monitor for unauthorized network connections to traffic management infrastructure

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-26344

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to Q-Free MaxTime systems using firewall rules and network segmentation
• Disable guest mode functionality if not required for operations
• Implement additional authentication layers at the network perimeter
• Monitor for any unauthorized configuration changes to guest mode settings
• Contact Q-Free for patching information and remediation guidance

Patch Information

Organizations should contact Q-Free directly for official patch information addressing this vulnerability. The vulnerability affects Q-Free MaxTime versions 2.11.0 and earlier. For additional technical details, refer to the Nozomi Networks Vulnerability Advisory.

Workarounds

• Implement network-level access controls to restrict connectivity to MaxTime systems to trusted IP addresses only
• Deploy a reverse proxy or web application firewall to filter requests to sensitive endpoints
• Disable the guest mode feature entirely if it is not operationally required
• Place MaxTime systems on isolated network segments with strict ingress/egress controls

# Example firewall rule to restrict access to MaxTime systems
# Allow only trusted management networks
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 10.0.0.0/8 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP