CVE-2025-64120: Nuvation Energy MSC RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-64120 Overview

CVE-2025-64120 is a critical OS Command Injection vulnerability affecting Nuvation Energy Multi-Stack Controller (MSC), an industrial control system component used in energy management and battery storage applications. The vulnerability exists due to improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, allowing authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary operating system commands on affected devices.

This vulnerability poses a significant risk to critical infrastructure environments where the Multi-Stack Controller manages energy storage systems. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain complete control over the affected controller, potentially disrupting energy management operations or using the compromised device as a pivot point for further attacks within operational technology (OT) networks.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers with network access can execute arbitrary OS commands on affected Nuvation Energy Multi-Stack Controllers, potentially compromising critical energy infrastructure systems.

Affected Products

• Nuvation Energy Multi-Stack Controller (MSC) versions 2.3.8 through 2.5.0
• Nuvation Energy Multi-Stack Controller (MSC) prior to version 2.5.1

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-02 - CVE-2025-64120 published to NVD
• 2026-01-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-64120

Vulnerability Analysis

This OS Command Injection vulnerability (CWE-78) occurs when user-controllable input is passed to operating system command execution functions without proper sanitization. The Multi-Stack Controller fails to adequately neutralize special characters and command separators that could allow an attacker to break out of the intended command context and inject malicious commands.

In industrial control system environments like those managed by the Nuvation Energy MSC, command injection vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because these devices typically run with elevated privileges and have direct access to operational technology networks. The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability combined with low attack complexity makes it a high-priority concern for organizations using affected versions.

The vulnerability requires low-level authentication, meaning attackers must have some form of valid credentials or session access to exploit the flaw. However, once authenticated, exploitation does not require user interaction and can be performed entirely over the network.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-64120 is improper input validation and insufficient neutralization of special elements before incorporating user input into OS commands. The affected versions of the Multi-Stack Controller (2.3.8 through versions prior to 2.5.1) fail to properly sanitize input that gets passed to shell command execution functions.

Command injection vulnerabilities typically arise when:

• User input is concatenated directly into command strings
• Special characters like ;, |, &, $(), and backticks are not filtered or escaped
• Input validation relies on blocklisting rather than allowlisting

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed remotely over the network by an authenticated attacker. The exploitation process involves:

1. The attacker gains authenticated access to the Multi-Stack Controller interface
2. Malicious input containing command separators and OS commands is crafted
3. The payload is submitted through a vulnerable input field or API endpoint
4. The controller processes the input and executes the injected commands with system privileges

Command injection payloads typically use shell metacharacters to chain additional commands. For example, an attacker might inject command separators followed by arbitrary commands such as spawning reverse shells, downloading additional payloads, or manipulating configuration files.

The vulnerability mechanism exploits insufficient input sanitization in command execution contexts. For detailed technical information, refer to the Dragos Security Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-64120

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual outbound network connections from Multi-Stack Controller devices to external IP addresses
• Unexpected process execution or shell spawning on MSC devices
• Anomalous command history or log entries showing shell metacharacters in input fields
• Creation of unauthorized user accounts or SSH keys on affected systems
• Unexpected file modifications in system directories or configuration files

Detection Strategies

• Monitor network traffic for anomalous patterns from Multi-Stack Controller devices, including unexpected protocols or destinations
• Implement application-layer inspection to detect command injection patterns in HTTP/HTTPS traffic to MSC management interfaces
• Deploy intrusion detection rules to identify common command injection payloads targeting industrial control systems
• Enable comprehensive logging on MSC devices and forward logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation and analysis

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure alerts for authentication events followed by unusual system behavior on MSC devices
• Establish baseline network behavior for Multi-Stack Controllers and alert on deviations
• Monitor for process execution anomalies such as shells spawned by web server processes
• Implement file integrity monitoring on critical MSC system files and configurations

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-64120

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade affected Nuvation Energy Multi-Stack Controller devices to version 2.5.1 or later immediately
• Isolate vulnerable MSC devices from untrusted networks until patching is complete
• Review authentication logs for signs of unauthorized access or suspicious activity
• Implement network segmentation to restrict access to MSC management interfaces to authorized personnel only
• Enable multi-factor authentication where supported to reduce the risk of credential compromise

Patch Information

Nuvation Energy has addressed this vulnerability in Multi-Stack Controller version 2.5.1. Organizations should update all affected devices from versions 2.3.8 through 2.5.0 to the patched version as soon as possible. Consult the Dragos Security Advisory for additional guidance on remediation steps.

Workarounds

• Implement strict network access controls to limit who can reach the MSC management interface
• Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) configured to block command injection patterns
• Disable or restrict unnecessary services and interfaces on the Multi-Stack Controller
• Use jump hosts or VPN solutions to require additional authentication layers before accessing MSC devices

# Example network segmentation using iptables to restrict MSC access
# Allow only specific management subnet to access MSC on port 443
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 10.10.50.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP

# Log blocked connection attempts for monitoring
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j LOG --log-prefix "MSC-BLOCKED: "