CVE-2020-8994Public exploit

Root shell access via unauthenticated UART console

Published Mar 5, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Authentication bypass in XIAOMI AI speaker MDZ-25-DT firmware 1.34.36 and 1.40.14 allows physically proximate attackers to gain root access. The exposed UART debug console performs no authentication and opens a passwordless root shell after the enclosure is removed. Physical access and a wired UART connection are required; the shell exposes stored Wi-Fi credentials and dialogue files and permits recording, file modification, service shutdown, and SSH activation.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.56%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in XIAOMI AI speaker MDZ-25-DT firmware 1.34.36 and 1.40.14 allows physically proximate attackers to gain root access. The exposed UART debug console performs no authentication and opens a passwordless root shell after the enclosure is removed. Physical access and a wired UART connection are required; the shell exposes stored Wi-Fi credentials and dialogue files and permits recording, file modification, service shutdown, and SSH activation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-8994
Published
Mar 5, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-287, T1059
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 5, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.2NIST NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
6.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-287Improper Authentication
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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