CVE-2025-41108: Ghost Robotics Vision 60 RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-41108 Overview

CVE-2025-41108 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability affecting the Ghost Robotics Vision 60 quadruped robot. The communication protocol implemented in the Vision 60 firmware version 0.27.2 lacks encryption and authentication mechanisms, allowing attackers to send unauthorized commands to the robot from an external attack station. By impersonating the legitimate control station (tablet), an attacker can gain full control of the robotic platform.

The vulnerability stems from the use of the MAVLink protocol—a widely documented communication protocol commonly used in unmanned systems—without implementing proper security controls. This architectural weakness allows attackers to capture legitimate traffic between the robot and its controller, replicate the communication patterns, and inject arbitrary commands from any attacking computer or device.

Critical Impact

An unauthenticated remote attacker can gain complete control of the Ghost Robotics Vision 60 robot by impersonating the control station, potentially enabling physical attacks, surveillance compromise, or operational disruption in military, law enforcement, and industrial settings.

Affected Products

• Ghost Robotics Vision 60 Firmware version 0.27.2
• Ghost Robotics Vision 60 Hardware Platform
• Systems communicating via Wi-Fi or 4G/LTE connections

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-10-22 - CVE-2025-41108 published to NVD
• 2025-10-31 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-41108

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability represents a fundamental security design flaw in the Ghost Robotics Vision 60's communication architecture. The robot accepts commands from any source that can produce valid MAVLink protocol messages, without verifying the identity or authorization of the sender. This missing authentication vulnerability (CWE-287) creates a critical attack surface where the robot cannot distinguish between legitimate operator commands and malicious instructions from an attacker.

The Vision 60 supports two remote connection methods—Wi-Fi and 4G/LTE—both of which are susceptible to this attack. Since MAVLink is a well-documented open protocol designed for unmanned vehicle systems, attackers have readily available documentation to understand the command structure and craft malicious payloads without reverse engineering.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-41108 is the absence of encryption and authentication mechanisms in the communication protocol between the Vision 60 robot and its control station. The implementation relies solely on the obscurity of the network connection rather than implementing cryptographic authentication to verify command sources. This design oversight means that any device capable of communicating over the same network interface can issue commands that the robot will accept and execute.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based and requires no user interaction or prior authentication. An attacker positioned within range of the robot's Wi-Fi network or with access to the 4G/LTE communication path can execute this attack through the following methodology:

1. Traffic Capture: The attacker monitors network traffic between the legitimate control tablet and the Vision 60 robot to capture MAVLink protocol messages
2. Protocol Analysis: Using publicly available MAVLink documentation, the attacker analyzes the captured traffic to understand the command structure
3. Command Replication: The attacker crafts malicious MAVLink commands using any device capable of network communication
4. Impersonation Attack: By transmitting these commands over the robot's network interface, the attacker impersonates the legitimate control station
5. Full Control: The robot accepts and executes the unauthorized commands, granting the attacker complete control over movement, sensors, and other functions

The attack can be conducted passively (after traffic analysis) without alerting the legitimate operator, as the robot has no mechanism to detect or prevent simultaneous command sources.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-41108

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected network connections to the Vision 60 robot from unrecognized IP addresses or MAC addresses
• Duplicate or conflicting MAVLink command streams observed in network traffic analysis
• Robot exhibiting autonomous behaviors not initiated by the legitimate control station
• Anomalous network traffic patterns on Wi-Fi or 4G/LTE interfaces during robot operations

Detection Strategies

• Deploy network monitoring solutions to baseline normal communication patterns between the control tablet and Vision 60 robot
• Implement network segmentation to isolate robot control traffic and monitor for unauthorized access attempts
• Configure network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) to alert on MAVLink traffic originating from unexpected sources
• Enable comprehensive logging on network infrastructure supporting Vision 60 communications

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor for concurrent MAVLink sessions that could indicate an attacker operating alongside a legitimate controller
• Implement real-time alerting for new devices appearing on networks used for Vision 60 control
• Regularly audit network access controls and wireless security configurations
• Establish behavioral baselines for robot command frequencies and patterns to detect anomalous activity

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-41108

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict Vision 60 operations to physically secured environments with controlled network access
• Implement network-level access controls to limit devices capable of communicating with the robot
• Disable remote connectivity (Wi-Fi and 4G/LTE) when not operationally required
• Monitor Ghost Robotics communications for firmware updates addressing this vulnerability
• Review the INCIBE CERT Vulnerability Notice for additional guidance

Patch Information

As of the last modification date (2025-10-31), no official patch has been released by Ghost Robotics to address this vulnerability. Organizations should monitor vendor communications and the INCIBE CERT advisory for updates on firmware releases that implement proper authentication and encryption mechanisms.

Workarounds

• Deploy Vision 60 robots only within isolated, secured network environments inaccessible to potential attackers
• Implement VPN tunneling for 4G/LTE communications to add a layer of authentication at the network level
• Use dedicated, hidden SSID Wi-Fi networks with WPA3 encryption and strong pre-shared keys for Wi-Fi operations
• Consider deploying network access control (NAC) solutions to restrict which devices can communicate on robot control networks
• Implement physical security controls to prevent attackers from positioning within Wi-Fi range during operations

Mitigation through network-level controls is recommended until the vendor releases a firmware update that implements proper MAVLink authentication and encryption. Organizations should conduct risk assessments to determine if operational use of affected Vision 60 units is appropriate given the security implications.