CVE-2025-46272 Overview
CVE-2025-46272 is a critical command injection vulnerability affecting Planet Technology WGS-80HPT-V2 and WGS-4215-8T2S industrial network switches. This vulnerability allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary operating system commands on the host system via network-based attacks, potentially leading to complete device compromise.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary OS commands on affected industrial network switches, potentially compromising critical infrastructure environments.
Affected Products
- Planet Technology WGS-80HPT-V2
- Planet Technology WGS-4215-8T2S
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-24 - CVE-2025-46272 published to NVD
- 2025-04-29 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-46272
Vulnerability Analysis
This command injection vulnerability (CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command) exists in the Planet Technology WGS-80HPT-V2 and WGS-4215-8T2S industrial switches. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation, allowing attackers to inject malicious commands that are subsequently executed by the underlying operating system.
The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability combined with the lack of authentication requirements significantly increases the risk profile. Attackers can exploit this flaw remotely without needing valid credentials, making it particularly dangerous in industrial control system (ICS) environments where these switches may be deployed.
Industrial network switches are often critical components in operational technology (OT) networks, and successful exploitation could allow attackers to pivot to other systems, intercept network traffic, or disrupt industrial operations.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2025-46272 is improper input validation in the affected devices' web management interface or command processing functionality. User-supplied input is passed directly to system shell commands without adequate sanitization or filtering, enabling command injection attacks. This represents a classic CWE-78 vulnerability pattern where special characters and command separators are not properly neutralized before being used in OS command construction.
Attack Vector
The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, requiring no authentication and no user interaction. An attacker with network access to the affected device's management interface can craft malicious requests containing injected commands. These commands are then executed with the privileges of the web server or management service, typically running with elevated permissions on embedded devices.
The exploitation mechanism involves sending specially crafted requests to vulnerable endpoints, where command metacharacters (such as ;, |, &&, or backticks) are used to break out of the intended command context and execute arbitrary commands.
Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain persistent access, exfiltrate configuration data including credentials, modify device configurations to enable man-in-the-middle attacks, or cause denial of service by disrupting switch operations.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-46272
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual outbound network connections from the switch management interface to external IP addresses
- Unexpected processes or command execution logs on the device if logging is enabled
- Changes to device configuration or firmware without authorized administrator actions
- Network traffic anomalies indicating command-and-control communication from the switch
Detection Strategies
- Monitor network traffic to and from the management interfaces of affected switches for suspicious patterns
- Implement network segmentation to isolate industrial switch management interfaces from untrusted networks
- Deploy intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for command injection patterns targeting web interfaces
- Review web server logs for requests containing shell metacharacters or unusual encoding
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable and centralize logging for all management interface access attempts on affected devices
- Monitor for unauthorized configuration changes or firmware modifications
- Implement alerting for network connections originating from switch management interfaces to unexpected destinations
- Conduct regular vulnerability scans of network infrastructure to identify exposed management interfaces
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-46272
Immediate Actions Required
- Restrict network access to the management interface of affected switches to trusted administrative networks only
- Implement firewall rules to block external access to device management ports
- Monitor affected devices for signs of compromise until patches can be applied
- Review and audit current device configurations and access logs for unauthorized changes
Patch Information
Organizations should consult the CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-25-114-06 for the latest patch availability and vendor-specific remediation guidance. Contact Planet Technology support for firmware updates addressing this vulnerability.
Workarounds
- Isolate affected devices on a dedicated management VLAN inaccessible from general network segments
- Use VPN or jump hosts for administrative access, ensuring no direct internet exposure of management interfaces
- Disable or restrict web-based management if command-line alternatives are available
- Implement network access control lists (ACLs) limiting management interface access to specific administrator IP addresses
# Example firewall rule to restrict management interface access (Linux iptables)
# Replace 192.168.1.100 with switch IP and 10.0.0.0/24 with trusted admin network
iptables -A FORWARD -d 192.168.1.100 -p tcp --dport 80 -s ! 10.0.0.0/24 -j DROP
iptables -A FORWARD -d 192.168.1.100 -p tcp --dport 443 -s ! 10.0.0.0/24 -j DROP
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
