CVE-2025-9974: ONT/Beacon Device RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-9974 Overview

CVE-2025-9974 is a command injection vulnerability affecting the unified WEBUI application of Nokia ONT/Beacon devices. The vulnerability exists due to an input handling flaw that allows authenticated users to trigger unintended system-level command execution. Due to insufficient validation of user-supplied data, a low-privileged authenticated attacker may be able to execute arbitrary commands on the underlying ONT/Beacon operating system, potentially impacting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the device.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows authenticated attackers with low privileges to execute arbitrary system commands, potentially leading to complete device compromise, unauthorized access to network infrastructure, and disruption of telecommunications services.

Affected Products

Nokia ONT/Beacon Devices
Nokia Unified WEBUI Application
Network infrastructure devices running vulnerable firmware

Discovery Timeline

2026-02-02 - CVE CVE-2025-9974 published to NVD
2026-02-03 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-9974

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command), commonly known as OS Command Injection. The flaw resides in the unified WEBUI application of Nokia ONT/Beacon devices, where user-supplied input is passed to system-level command execution functions without proper sanitization.

The adjacent network attack vector indicates that exploitation requires the attacker to be on the same network segment as the vulnerable device. While authentication is required, only low-privilege access is necessary to exploit this vulnerability. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning in environments where multiple users have access to the device's web interface or where internal network segmentation is weak.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input validation in the WEBUI application. When processing user-supplied data, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters and command separators before passing the input to underlying operating system command execution functions. This allows an attacker to inject additional commands that are executed with the privileges of the web application process on the ONT/Beacon operating system.

Attack Vector

The attack requires adjacent network access (the attacker must be on the same network segment as the target device) and valid authentication credentials, even at a low privilege level. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by:

Authenticating to the WEBUI application with low-privilege credentials
Identifying input fields or parameters that are processed without proper sanitization
Injecting specially crafted command sequences using shell metacharacters (such as ;, |, &&, or backticks)
Executing arbitrary commands on the underlying operating system

The vulnerability allows attackers to achieve command execution with the privileges of the WEBUI application process, potentially enabling data exfiltration, configuration manipulation, or lateral movement within the network infrastructure.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-9974

Indicators of Compromise

Unusual commands or processes spawned by the WEBUI application process
Unexpected network connections initiated from ONT/Beacon devices
Modification of system configuration files or firmware settings
Authentication logs showing suspicious activity from low-privilege accounts

Detection Strategies

Monitor WEBUI application logs for unusual input patterns containing shell metacharacters (;, |, &&, $(), backticks)
Implement network traffic analysis to detect anomalous connections from ONT/Beacon devices
Deploy intrusion detection rules to identify command injection patterns in HTTP requests to device management interfaces
Review authentication logs for unusual access patterns from low-privilege accounts

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable verbose logging on ONT/Beacon device WEBUI applications
Implement network segmentation monitoring to detect lateral movement attempts
Configure alerts for any command execution anomalies on network infrastructure devices
Establish baseline behavior for ONT/Beacon devices and alert on deviations

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-9974

Immediate Actions Required

Review and restrict network access to ONT/Beacon device management interfaces
Implement network segmentation to limit adjacent network access to critical infrastructure
Audit user accounts with WEBUI access and apply principle of least privilege
Monitor device logs for any signs of exploitation attempts

Patch Information

Nokia has released a security advisory addressing this vulnerability. Administrators should consult the Nokia Security Advisory for CVE-2025-9974 for detailed patch information and updated firmware versions. It is recommended to apply vendor-provided patches as soon as they become available following standard change management procedures.

Workarounds

Restrict WEBUI access to trusted network segments only using access control lists (ACLs) or firewall rules
Implement additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication where supported
Disable unnecessary WEBUI features or functionality that process user input
Consider temporarily disabling web-based management and using alternative management methods (such as CLI over secure connections) until patches can be applied

bash

# Example network segmentation configuration
# Restrict access to ONT/Beacon management interface to trusted management VLAN only
# Consult Nokia documentation for device-specific configuration syntax

# Firewall rule example (generic)
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -s 10.0.0.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -s 10.0.0.0/24 -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -j DROP
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 443 -j DROP