CVE-2025-43928: Infodraw PMRS-102 Path Traversal Flaw

CVE-2025-43928 Overview

CVE-2025-43928 is a critical path traversal vulnerability affecting Infodraw Media Relay Service (MRS) 7.1.0.0. The MRS web server, which operates on port 12654, is susceptible to directory traversal attacks through the username field in authentication requests. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by injecting ../ sequences into the username parameter, allowing them to read arbitrary files from the underlying system without authentication.

The impact of successful exploitation is severe, as attackers can access sensitive configuration files including ServerParameters.xml, which may contain administrator credentials stored in cleartext or with weak MD5 hashing. This vulnerability affects surveillance infrastructure systems commonly deployed in critical environments.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can read arbitrary files from vulnerable Infodraw MRS servers, potentially exposing administrator credentials and enabling complete system compromise of surveillance infrastructure.

Affected Products

• Infodraw PMRS-102 Firmware version 7.1.0.0
• Infodraw PMRS-102 Hardware
• Infodraw Media Relay Service (MRS) 7.1.0.0

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-04-20 - CVE-2025-43928 published to NVD
• 2025-04-24 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-43928

Vulnerability Analysis

This directory traversal vulnerability (CWE-22, CWE-24) exists in the authentication mechanism of the Infodraw MRS web server. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation on the username field during the login process. When users submit authentication credentials to the web interface on port 12654, the server fails to properly sanitize path traversal sequences, allowing attackers to escape the intended directory context and access files anywhere on the filesystem that the web server process has permission to read.

The exposure of ServerParameters.xml is particularly dangerous because this configuration file contains authentication credentials for the MRS system. These credentials may be stored in plaintext or protected only by MD5 hashing, which is considered cryptographically weak and easily crackable with modern hardware. Successful credential extraction enables attackers to gain administrative access to the surveillance system.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-43928 is improper input validation in the username parameter handling within the MRS web server's authentication module. The application fails to implement proper path canonicalization or input sanitization routines that would reject or neutralize directory traversal sequences such as ../ or ..\. This allows user-controlled input to directly influence file system operations, violating the principle of least privilege and enabling unauthorized file access.

The vulnerability falls under CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and CWE-24 (Path Traversal: '../filedir'), indicating a fundamental failure to enforce directory boundaries in file access operations.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted HTTP request to the MRS web server on port 12654. The malicious payload is inserted into the username field of the login form, containing directory traversal sequences that navigate from the application's expected directory to the target file location.

For example, an attacker would construct a username value containing multiple ../ sequences followed by the path to a sensitive file such as ServerParameters.xml. When the server processes this input without proper sanitization, it resolves the path to the actual target file and returns its contents. The attack requires only network access to port 12654 on the vulnerable system. For detailed technical analysis, refer to the Mint Secure blog post on the vulnerability and the Easterhegg 2022 presentation.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-43928

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to port 12654 containing ../ or URL-encoded variants (%2e%2e%2f) in the username parameter
• Access attempts targeting ServerParameters.xml or other sensitive configuration files
• Unusual authentication failures with path traversal patterns in usernames
• Web server logs showing requests with abnormally long username values containing directory traversal sequences

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal patterns in HTTP request parameters
• Configure network intrusion detection systems (IDS) to alert on traffic containing directory traversal sequences targeting port 12654
• Monitor authentication logs for username values containing suspicious characters or patterns (../, ..\\, %2e%2e)
• Deploy SentinelOne Singularity Platform to detect anomalous file access patterns on MRS servers

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging on MRS web server to capture full request parameters
• Set up real-time alerting for any access to ServerParameters.xml from the web server process
• Monitor for authentication attempts using credentials not previously seen in your environment (may indicate stolen credentials)
• Track network connections to port 12654 from unexpected source IP addresses

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-43928

Immediate Actions Required

• Restrict network access to the MRS web server (port 12654) to trusted IP addresses only using firewall rules
• Place vulnerable Infodraw MRS systems behind a VPN or network segmentation
• Change all administrator credentials stored in ServerParameters.xml immediately
• Audit access logs for evidence of prior exploitation attempts
• Consider temporarily disabling the web interface if not operationally required

Patch Information

At the time of publication, no vendor-supplied patch has been identified for CVE-2025-43928. Organizations should contact Infodraw directly for information regarding security updates for the Media Relay Service. Monitor the Infodraw product pages and official security advisories for patch availability.

Workarounds

• Implement strict firewall rules to limit access to port 12654 to only authorized administrative IP addresses
• Deploy a reverse proxy or WAF in front of the MRS web server to filter requests containing path traversal patterns
• Consider network isolation of MRS systems from untrusted networks until a patch is available
• Implement additional authentication layers (VPN, network access control) before allowing access to the web interface

# Example firewall configuration to restrict MRS web access (iptables)
# Replace 192.168.1.100 with your trusted admin IP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 12654 -s 192.168.1.100 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 12654 -j DROP