CVE-2025-49164: Arris VIP1113 Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2025-49164 Overview

CVE-2025-49164 is a hardcoded cryptographic key vulnerability [CWE-321] affecting Arris VIP1113 set-top box devices running the KreaTV Software Development Kit (SDK). The firmware decryption key cd1c2d78f2cba1f73ca7e697b4a485f49a8a7d0c8b0fdc9f51ced50f2530668a is embedded in the device and shared across the deployed fleet. An attacker with local access can use this key to decrypt firmware images, exposing proprietary code and enabling further reverse engineering of the platform. The issue affects Arris VIP1113 devices through 2025-05-30.

Critical Impact
A shared, hardcoded 256-bit key allows any attacker with local access to a VIP1113 device to decrypt vendor firmware images, undermining firmware confidentiality across every deployed unit.

Affected Products

Arris VIP1113 set-top box devices through 2025-05-30
Devices shipped with the KreaTV SDK firmware stack
Deployments relying on the shared firmware decryption key

Discovery Timeline

2025-06-03 - CVE-2025-49164 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-49164

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from the inclusion of a static Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) key inside the Arris VIP1113 firmware distribution. Every VIP1113 device running the KreaTV SDK derives firmware decryption from the same 64-character hexadecimal value. Because the key is not device-unique or provisioned per unit, extracting it from a single device compromises firmware protection for the entire product line.

Hardcoded cryptographic keys defeat the purpose of encrypting firmware in transit or at rest. Once the key is known, the confidentiality guarantee is broken permanently, and no over-the-air update using the same key material can restore it. Attackers can decrypt firmware to study proprietary components, extract embedded credentials, and identify additional attack surface.

Root Cause

The root cause is a Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key weakness [CWE-321]. The KreaTV SDK build process embeds a fixed decryption key into the device runtime rather than provisioning per-device keys or using a hardware-backed key store. This design pattern conflicts with secure firmware update guidance and eliminates key isolation between devices.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access to the device or to a firmware image encrypted with the shared key. An attacker who obtains one VIP1113 unit can extract the key from flash or memory, then apply it to any firmware bundle distributed for the platform. The scope changes because the extracted key affects components beyond the compromised device. The vulnerability does not directly grant code execution, but it enables downstream analysis that can lead to secondary vulnerabilities. See the Full Disclosure Report on the Arris bootloader issue for related technical context.

No verified proof-of-concept code is published for CVE-2025-49164.
The vulnerability is a static-key disclosure rather than an executable exploit.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-49164

Indicators of Compromise

Presence of the string cd1c2d78f2cba1f73ca7e697b4a485f49a8a7d0c8b0fdc9f51ced50f2530668a in extracted firmware, memory dumps, or forensic images.
Unauthorized firmware images signed or encrypted with the disclosed key appearing on staging or distribution servers.
Unexpected physical access, JTAG connections, or serial console sessions on VIP1113 units in the field.

Detection Strategies

Inventory all Arris VIP1113 devices running KreaTV SDK builds dated on or before 2025-05-30 and flag them for follow-up.
Hash firmware artifacts and compare them against vendor-provided baselines to identify unauthorized modifications.
Monitor network egress from set-top boxes for anomalous update-server destinations that could indicate rogue firmware delivery.

Monitoring Recommendations

Log and review any firmware provisioning event, including out-of-band updates initiated from operator infrastructure.
Watch for tamper indicators on device chassis and power supply telemetry where supported.
Alert on repeated failed authentication or bootloader activity that could accompany post-decryption exploitation.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-49164

Immediate Actions Required

Contact Arris and KreaTV SDK maintainers to obtain guidance on key rotation and firmware re-signing.
Restrict physical access to VIP1113 devices in operator facilities, customer premises equipment stockpiles, and lab environments.
Treat any firmware image previously encrypted with the disclosed key as public and remove sensitive material from future builds.

Patch Information

No vendor patch is referenced in the NVD entry at the time of publication. Operators should track advisories from Arris and consult the Full Disclosure Report for related fixes. Long-term remediation requires transitioning to per-device keys, hardware-backed key storage, or signed firmware verified with keys held only by the vendor.

Workarounds

Segment set-top boxes onto isolated network VLANs to limit lateral movement following firmware analysis.
Disable unused management interfaces and serial consoles where field configuration permits.
Enforce chain-of-custody controls for decommissioned devices so extracted units cannot be used to derive further secrets.

bash

# Configuration example: inventory VIP1113 devices via operator asset database
grep -i "VIP1113" asset_inventory.csv \
  | awk -F',' '{print $1, $2, $5}' \
  > vip1113_exposed_devices.txt