CVE-2025-41274 Overview
CVE-2025-41274 is an unauthenticated OS command injection vulnerability in the Console WebUI of Waterfall Security WF-500 TX and RX hosts running firmware version 7.9.1.0 R2502171040. Nozomi Networks Labs identified the flaw, which is tracked as CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command. Remote attackers can execute arbitrary operating system commands on the device without supplying credentials. The WF-500 is a unidirectional security gateway deployed in industrial and critical infrastructure environments, where compromise enables lateral pivoting between segmented networks.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary OS commands on Waterfall WF-500 unidirectional gateways, undermining the network segmentation these devices enforce between IT and OT environments.
Affected Products
- Waterfall Security WF-500 TX Host, firmware 7.9.1.0 R2502171040
- Waterfall Security WF-500 RX Host, firmware 7.9.1.0 R2502171040
- Waterfall Security WF-500 hardware appliances running the affected firmware
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-05-29 - CVE-2025-41274 published to NVD
- 2026-06-01 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-41274
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the Console WebUI, the web-based management interface exposed by both the TX (transmit) and RX (receive) hosts of the WF-500 unidirectional gateway. The WebUI fails to properly neutralize special shell metacharacters supplied in HTTP request parameters before passing them to an underlying operating system command interpreter. An attacker can inject shell directives such as command separators, pipes, or backticks into a vulnerable input field and have them executed by the host shell.
Because the WF-500 enforces one-way data flow between segmented networks, command execution on either host breaks the security guarantee the device is deployed to provide. Successful exploitation grants full control over the gateway operating system, with consequences for the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data crossing the segmentation boundary.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient input sanitization in the Console WebUI request handlers. User-controlled parameters reach an OS command execution function (such as a system(), exec(), or shell pipeline call) without escaping or argument-array isolation. The endpoint also lacks authentication, removing the most basic barrier to abuse.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires only network reachability to the Console WebUI. The attacker sends a crafted HTTP or HTTPS request containing injected shell syntax in a vulnerable parameter. No prior credentials, user interaction, or elevated privileges are required. Where the WebUI is reachable from corporate networks or, worse, the public internet, exploitation can be fully automated.
No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available. Refer to the Nozomi Networks Vulnerability Advisory for further technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-41274
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP or HTTPS requests to the Console WebUI containing shell metacharacters such as ;, |, &, $(), or backticks in query strings or POST bodies.
- Unexpected outbound network connections originating from the WF-500 TX or RX host, particularly to external IPs or non-standard ports.
- New or modified files in writable directories on the gateway, including unexpected shell scripts, cron entries, or binaries.
- Web server process spawning child processes such as sh, bash, wget, curl, nc, or python immediately after a WebUI request.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect WebUI access logs for requests containing URL-encoded shell metacharacters or anomalously long parameter values.
- Deploy network IDS signatures that flag command injection patterns directed at the WF-500 management interface.
- Correlate WebUI request timestamps with process execution and outbound network telemetry from the gateway.
- Baseline normal administrative traffic to the Console WebUI and alert on requests outside that baseline source range.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward WF-500 system and web logs to a centralized SIEM or data lake for retention and correlation.
- Monitor authentication events and configuration changes on the gateway for unexplained activity.
- Alert on any process executions on TX or RX hosts that are not part of documented vendor binaries.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-41274
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict network access to the Console WebUI to a dedicated management VLAN and trusted administrator workstations only.
- Block all internet exposure of the WF-500 management interface at the perimeter firewall.
- Audit current firmware versions across all WF-500 deployments and identify hosts running 7.9.1.0 R2502171040.
- Review WebUI access logs for indicators of prior exploitation attempts.
Patch Information
Consult the Nozomi Networks Vulnerability Advisory and Waterfall Security support channels for the corrected firmware build. Apply the vendor-supplied update to both TX and RX hosts. Validate device functionality and verify the firmware version reported by each host after upgrade.
Workarounds
- Place the Console WebUI behind a VPN or jump host that enforces strong authentication and multifactor verification.
- Apply strict access control lists on the management network to permit only known administrator source IPs.
- Disable the Console WebUI on production devices when not actively performing maintenance, where operationally feasible.
- Increase logging verbosity on the WebUI and forward logs off-device to prevent attacker tampering.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
