CVE-2025-41272: Waterfall WF-500 Firmware RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-41272 Overview

CVE-2025-41272 is an OS command injection vulnerability [CWE-78] in the Console WebUI of Waterfall WF-500 TX and RX Hosts running firmware version 7.9.1.0 R2502171040. Nozomi Networks Labs identified the flaw, which allows remote unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands on affected devices. The WF-500 is a unidirectional security gateway deployed in industrial and operational technology (OT) environments to enforce one-way data transfer between segmented networks. Successful exploitation grants attackers control over a security boundary device, undermining the segmentation guarantees these gateways are designed to provide.

Critical Impact

Remote unauthenticated attackers can execute arbitrary OS commands on Waterfall WF-500 unidirectional gateways, compromising the integrity of OT network segmentation.

Affected Products

• Waterfall WF-500 TX Host firmware version 7.9.1.0 R2502171040
• Waterfall WF-500 RX Host firmware version 7.9.1.0 R2502171040
• Waterfall WF-500 hardware appliance

Discovery Timeline

• Vulnerability identified by Nozomi Networks Labs
• 2026-05-29 - CVE-2025-41272 published to NVD
• 2026-06-01 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-41272

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the Console WebUI exposed by the WF-500 TX and RX Hosts. User-supplied input reaching a command-execution sink is not properly neutralized, allowing shell metacharacters and command separators to be interpreted by the underlying operating system. Because the endpoint is reachable without prior authentication, an attacker only requires network access to the management interface to invoke the flaw. Exploitation yields arbitrary command execution in the context of the WebUI process, which on appliance-class devices typically runs with elevated privileges.

The device's role as a unidirectional gateway amplifies the impact. Compromise of the TX or RX Host directly affects the trust boundary between source and destination networks, which in many deployments separate IT from OT or safety-critical zones.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in an OS command [CWE-78]. The WebUI passes attacker-controlled parameters to a system shell invocation without adequate input validation, sanitization, or use of safe APIs that separate the command from its arguments.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requires no privileges, and no user interaction. An attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to the Console WebUI containing command separators or shell metacharacters embedded in a vulnerable parameter. The injected payload executes on the underlying operating system. See the Nozomi Networks Vulnerability Advisory for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-41272

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected outbound network connections originating from WF-500 TX or RX Hosts, which by design should have constrained egress.
• HTTP requests to the Console WebUI containing shell metacharacters such as ;, |, &&, backticks, or $() in query strings or POST bodies.
• New or modified files, cron entries, or processes on the appliance that do not match the vendor's baseline.
• Authentication logs showing administrative activity not initiated by legitimate operators.

Detection Strategies

• Inspect WebUI access logs for anomalous parameter values containing command-injection syntax targeting management endpoints.
• Baseline expected processes on the WF-500 and alert on the appearance of shells (sh, bash) or interpreters spawned by the WebUI service.
• Correlate management-interface traffic with firewall logs to identify access from sources outside the approved administration network.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Forward Console WebUI and system logs from WF-500 devices to a centralized SIEM for retention and alerting.
• Monitor the management VLAN with network detection sensors capable of decoding HTTP traffic to the appliance.
• Track changes to device configuration and firmware integrity at regular intervals.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-41272

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the WF-500 Console WebUI to a dedicated management network and trusted administrative hosts only.
• Audit firewall and ACL rules to ensure the WebUI is not reachable from general-purpose IT networks or the internet.
• Review WF-500 logs for evidence of exploitation attempts dating back to deployment of firmware 7.9.1.0 R2502171040.
• Engage Waterfall Security support to confirm patched firmware availability and an upgrade path.

Patch Information

Refer to the Nozomi Networks Vulnerability Advisory and Waterfall Security support channels for the vendor-supplied fixed firmware version. Apply the patched firmware to both TX and RX Hosts as soon as it is available.

Workarounds

• Place the WF-500 management interface behind a jump host that enforces multi-factor authentication and session logging.
• Apply strict source-IP allowlists on upstream firewalls so that only named administrator workstations can reach the Console WebUI.
• Disable or block external access to the WebUI when it is not actively required for configuration changes.