CVE-2025-59694Public exploit

Persistent firmware modification via unprotected boot chain

Published Dec 2, 2025 · Updated Dec 2, 2025

Insecure boot protection in Entrust nShield Connect XC, nShield 5c, and nShield HSMi through 13.6.11 or 13.7 allows attackers to alter firmware. The Cosmo chassis management board leaves its ARM SoC boot chain without secure-boot enforcement, so JTAG access or a board firmware upgrade accepts persistently modified firmware. Physical access to the board is required; firmware control can influence appliance boot, tamper events, the front display, and USB state without compromising embedded HSM keys.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.32%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Insecure boot protection in Entrust nShield Connect XC, nShield 5c, and nShield HSMi through 13.6.11 or 13.7 allows attackers to alter firmware. The Cosmo chassis management board leaves its ARM SoC boot chain without secure-boot enforcement, so JTAG access or a board firmware upgrade accepts persistently modified firmware. Physical access to the board is required; firmware control can influence appliance boot, tamper events, the front display, and USB state without compromising embedded HSM keys.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-59694
Published
Dec 2, 2025
Updated
Dec 2, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-1274, T1542.001
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 2, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 2, 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?

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

6.8CISA-ADPCVSS: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-1274Improper Access Control for Volatile Memory Containing Boot Code
T1542.001System Firmware

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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