CVE-2025-26359: Q-free Maxtime Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-26359 Overview

CVE-2025-26359 is a critical missing authentication vulnerability (CWE-306) affecting Q-Free MaxTime traffic management systems. The vulnerability exists in the maxprofile/accounts/routes.lua component, where critical account management functions lack proper authentication controls. This flaw allows unauthenticated remote attackers to reset user PINs via crafted HTTP requests, potentially compromising the entire traffic management infrastructure.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can remotely reset user PINs in Q-Free MaxTime systems, enabling unauthorized access to traffic management infrastructure and potentially disrupting traffic control operations.

Affected Products

• Q-Free MaxTime version 2.11.0 and earlier
• All Q-Free MaxTime installations with exposed network interfaces
• Traffic management systems utilizing Q-Free MaxTime software

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-02-12 - CVE-2025-26359 published to NVD
• 2025-10-28 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-26359

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability represents a fundamental authentication bypass flaw in the Q-Free MaxTime traffic management system. The maxprofile/accounts/routes.lua module fails to implement proper authentication checks before allowing access to critical account management functions, specifically the PIN reset functionality. This means that any attacker with network access to the system can invoke these sensitive operations without providing valid credentials.

The impact of this vulnerability is severe given that MaxTime systems are used for traffic management and control. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain administrative access to traffic control systems, potentially enabling them to manipulate traffic signals, access sensitive traffic data, or disrupt transportation infrastructure.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-26359 is CWE-306: Missing Authentication for Critical Function. The developers of the routes.lua module in the maxprofile/accounts component failed to implement authentication middleware or session validation before processing PIN reset requests. This architectural oversight allows the endpoint to accept and process requests from any source without verifying the identity or authorization of the requester.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted HTTP requests directly to the vulnerable endpoint. The attack can be executed remotely from anywhere with network access to the MaxTime system.

The exploitation process involves identifying exposed Q-Free MaxTime instances, then sending malformed HTTP requests to the account management routes to trigger the PIN reset functionality without authentication. Once a user's PIN has been reset, the attacker can potentially use default or predictable values to gain access to the system.

Since no verified code examples are available, organizations should refer to the Nozomi Networks Vulnerability Advisory for detailed technical information about the vulnerability mechanism and potential attack patterns.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-26359

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected HTTP requests targeting /maxprofile/accounts/ routes from external or unauthorized IP addresses
• Multiple PIN reset operations occurring without corresponding legitimate user activity
• Authentication logs showing unusual patterns of failed logins followed by successful access after PIN changes
• Network traffic anomalies indicating reconnaissance or brute-force activity against MaxTime web interfaces

Detection Strategies

• Implement network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to MaxTime management interfaces
• Deploy web application firewalls (WAF) to identify and block suspicious requests to account management endpoints
• Enable detailed logging for all account management operations, particularly PIN reset functions
• Utilize intrusion detection systems (IDS) to monitor for exploit patterns targeting CWE-306 vulnerabilities

Monitoring Recommendations

• Continuously monitor network traffic to and from Q-Free MaxTime systems for anomalous patterns
• Establish baseline metrics for normal account management activity and alert on deviations
• Implement real-time alerting for any PIN reset operations that occur outside of expected maintenance windows
• Review authentication logs daily for signs of unauthorized access attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-26359

Immediate Actions Required

• Isolate Q-Free MaxTime systems from untrusted networks immediately
• Implement network segmentation to restrict access to MaxTime management interfaces to authorized personnel only
• Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF in front of MaxTime systems to add an authentication layer
• Audit all user accounts for unauthorized PIN changes and reset credentials for affected users
• Contact Q-Free for guidance on available patches or firmware updates

Patch Information

Organizations should consult Q-Free directly for official patches addressing this vulnerability. Review the Nozomi Networks Vulnerability Advisory for additional technical details and remediation guidance. Ensure Q-Free MaxTime systems are updated beyond version 2.11.0 when patches become available.

Workarounds

• Restrict network access to MaxTime systems using firewall rules that limit connectivity to authorized IP addresses only
• Implement VPN requirements for all remote access to traffic management infrastructure
• Add an external authentication proxy in front of the MaxTime web interface to enforce authentication
• Disable or block access to the /maxprofile/accounts/ routes at the network level until a patch is applied

# Example firewall configuration to restrict MaxTime access
# Allow only authorized management network
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 10.0.0.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 10.0.0.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP