CVE-2025-26365: Q-free Maxtime Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2025-26365 Overview

CVE-2025-26365 is a Missing Authentication for Critical Function vulnerability (CWE-306) affecting Q-Free MaxTime traffic management systems. The vulnerability exists in the maxprofile/setup/routes.lua component and allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to enable front panel authentication via crafted HTTP requests. This represents a significant security risk for critical infrastructure systems that rely on Q-Free MaxTime for traffic control operations.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can remotely modify authentication settings on traffic management systems, potentially compromising the integrity of critical transportation infrastructure.

Affected Products

• Q-Free MaxTime version 2.11.0 and earlier
• All Q-Free MaxTime deployments with exposed network interfaces
• Traffic management systems using vulnerable MaxTime configurations

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-02-12 - CVE-2025-26365 published to NVD
• 2025-10-28 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-26365

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from a critical authentication bypass in the Q-Free MaxTime traffic management platform. The affected component, maxprofile/setup/routes.lua, fails to properly enforce authentication requirements before allowing access to sensitive configuration functions. An attacker can exploit this flaw remotely over the network without requiring any credentials or prior authentication, making it highly accessible to potential threat actors.

The vulnerability specifically allows manipulation of front panel authentication settings, which could enable an attacker to either enable or disable security controls on the physical device interface. This type of configuration tampering could serve as a stepping stone for further attacks or be used to lock out legitimate operators from their own systems.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-26365 is the absence of proper authentication checks in the routes.lua file within the maxprofile setup module. The application processes HTTP requests to critical configuration endpoints without first validating that the requesting user has appropriate credentials or authorization. This is a classic CWE-306 vulnerability pattern where security-sensitive functionality is exposed without adequate access controls.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring no authentication, user interaction, or special privileges. An attacker with network access to a vulnerable Q-Free MaxTime system can send specially crafted HTTP requests to the maxprofile/setup/routes.lua endpoint to manipulate front panel authentication settings. The attack has low complexity, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical sophistication.

The vulnerability allows modification of integrity-sensitive configuration without compromising confidentiality or availability directly. However, the ability to alter authentication settings could facilitate subsequent attacks with broader impact on the traffic management infrastructure.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-26365

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected HTTP requests targeting /maxprofile/setup/routes endpoints on MaxTime systems
• Configuration changes to front panel authentication settings without authorized administrator actions
• Anomalous network traffic patterns to MaxTime management interfaces from unknown sources
• Log entries showing access to setup routes without corresponding authentication events

Detection Strategies

• Monitor network traffic for unauthenticated HTTP requests to MaxTime setup endpoints
• Implement intrusion detection signatures for requests targeting maxprofile/setup/routes.lua
• Configure alerts for any changes to front panel authentication configuration
• Deploy network-level monitoring on segments containing traffic management systems

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive logging on Q-Free MaxTime systems to capture all HTTP requests to configuration endpoints
• Implement network segmentation monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to critical infrastructure
• Establish baseline behavior for legitimate administrative actions and alert on deviations
• Review audit logs regularly for evidence of unauthorized configuration changes

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-26365

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to Q-Free MaxTime management interfaces using firewall rules and access control lists
• Implement network segmentation to isolate traffic management systems from untrusted networks
• Monitor all traffic to MaxTime systems for suspicious activity patterns
• Review system configurations for any unauthorized changes to authentication settings

Patch Information

Organizations running Q-Free MaxTime version 2.11.0 or earlier should contact Q-Free for information about security updates that address CVE-2025-26365. For detailed vulnerability information, refer to the Nozomi Networks Vulnerability Advisory.

Until a patch is available, organizations should implement the workarounds and network-level controls described below to reduce exposure.

Workarounds

• Deploy network access controls to restrict connections to MaxTime management interfaces to authorized IP addresses only
• Place MaxTime systems behind a VPN or other secure access gateway requiring authentication
• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block unauthorized requests to setup routes
• Consider disabling network access to configuration endpoints if remote management is not operationally required

# Example network access control configuration
# Restrict access to MaxTime management interface to authorized management network only
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 10.0.100.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 10.0.100.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP