CVE-2025-44954Network attack vector

Root shell access via shared SSH key

Published Aug 4, 2025 · Updated Aug 5, 2025

Use of a default cryptographic key in RUCKUS SmartZone before 6.1.2p3 Refresh Build allows remote attackers to gain root-level shell access. A built-in root-equivalent account stores the same default RSA public and private keys in its home .ssh directory on every affected system. Possession of a key copied from any RUCKUS device permits unauthenticated SSH login and full control of the controller and managed wireless environment.

CVSS severity9.0
Critical
EPSS probability0.75%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use of a default cryptographic key in RUCKUS SmartZone before 6.1.2p3 Refresh Build allows remote attackers to gain root-level shell access. A built-in root-equivalent account stores the same default RSA public and private keys in its home .ssh directory on every affected system. Possession of a key copied from any RUCKUS device permits unauthenticated SSH login and full control of the controller and managed wireless environment.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-44954
Published
Aug 4, 2025
Updated
Aug 5, 2025
Vendor
RUCKUS Networks
Product
SmartZone
Classifications
CWE-1394, T1021.004, T1078
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 4, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <6.1.2p3 Refresh Build

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

RUCKUS Networks · SmartZoneversion=0 <6.1.2p3 Refresh Build

Published CVSS scores

9.0MITRECVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-1394Use of Default Cryptographic Key
T1021.004SSH
T1078Valid Accounts

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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