CVE-2025-54754 Overview
CVE-2025-54754 is a hard-coded credentials vulnerability [CWE-259] affecting Cognex industrial devices. An attacker with adjacent network access can retrieve a hard-coded password embedded in publicly available software. Once recovered, the password decrypts sensitive network traffic exchanged with the affected device.
The issue requires no authentication and only minimal user interaction. Because the credential is shared across the deployed software base, every device that relies on it is exposed once the secret is extracted. CISA published advisory ICSA-25-261-06 covering the affected industrial control equipment.
Critical Impact
An unauthenticated attacker on an adjacent network can decrypt confidential traffic to and from Cognex devices, exposing operational data, configuration details, and potentially credentials transmitted over the wire.
Affected Products
- Cognex industrial devices as listed in CISA advisory ICSA-25-261-06
- Software distributions containing the embedded hard-coded password
- Deployments relying on the affected encrypted communication channel
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-09-18 - CVE-2025-54754 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-54754
Vulnerability Analysis
The flaw stems from a hard-coded password embedded directly in software distributed to customers and available publicly. An attacker who obtains or downloads the software can extract the secret through static analysis of binaries, configuration files, or libraries.
The extracted password serves as a cryptographic key or shared secret protecting network communications with Cognex devices. Once the attacker possesses this value, they can passively capture traffic on an adjacent network segment and decrypt the contents offline. The attack does not require active interaction with the target device once traffic has been collected.
The vulnerability falls under [CWE-259]: Use of Hard-coded Password. Hard-coded secrets shared across product instances violate the principle that cryptographic keys must be unique per device and protected from disclosure.
Root Cause
The root cause is the inclusion of a static, shared password inside publicly distributed software. Because the secret cannot be rotated without a software change and is identical across deployments, recovery of the value from any single distribution compromises every device using the same release.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires adjacent network access, meaning the attacker must be positioned on the same logical network segment, broadcast domain, or VPN as the targeted device. After capturing encrypted traffic, the attacker applies the recovered password to decrypt the session. No credentials are required against the device itself, and the EPSS score is approximately 0.228%.
No verified public exploit code is available. Technical details are described in prose because no realCodeExamples were provided. Refer to CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-25-261-06 for vendor-specific information.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-54754
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected packet captures or port mirroring activity on switches adjacent to Cognex devices
- New or unauthorized hosts joining VLANs that carry Cognex device traffic
- ARP spoofing or rogue DHCP activity targeting industrial network segments
- Unusual outbound transfers of captured PCAP files from engineering workstations
Detection Strategies
- Inspect network telemetry for sustained passive sniffing patterns near OT/ICS segments
- Correlate authentication anomalies on Cognex management interfaces with prior traffic capture events
- Hunt for binaries or scripts on endpoints that reference the affected Cognex software versions and extract embedded strings
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable port security and 802.1X on switches handling Cognex traffic to restrict adjacent access
- Forward network flow data and ICS protocol logs to a centralized analytics platform for baseline deviation analysis
- Monitor for unauthorized devices on industrial VLANs using continuous asset discovery
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-54754
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply vendor-supplied firmware or software updates as published in CISA advisory ICSA-25-261-06
- Segment Cognex devices onto isolated VLANs accessible only to authorized engineering hosts
- Restrict physical and logical access to network ports that can reach affected devices
- Rotate any credentials or certificates previously transmitted over the affected encrypted channel
Patch Information
Consult CISA ICS Advisory ICSA-25-261-06 for the authoritative list of affected models, fixed software versions, and Cognex remediation guidance. Apply updates following the vendor's documented upgrade procedure for industrial controllers.
Workarounds
- Encapsulate Cognex device traffic inside an IPsec or TLS tunnel terminated on hardened gateways
- Place Cognex devices behind an industrial firewall enforcing strict allowlists for management protocols
- Disable unnecessary remote management services on the device until patches are deployed
- Use dedicated, monitored jump hosts for any administrative session to the affected equipment
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
