Physical privilege escalation via serial-port authentication
Published Dec 19, 2025 · Updated Dec 19, 2025
Privilege escalation in affected Hikvision DVR firmware allows physically proximate attackers to obtain an unrestricted shell via the serial port. Hikvision has not disclosed how serial-port authentication is improperly implemented; the flaw exposes the unrestricted shell after a direct serial connection. Exploitation requires physical access to a DS-7104HGHI-F1 or DS-7204HGHI-F1 device and results in shell-level control of the DVR.
Summary
What happened
Privilege escalation in affected Hikvision DVR firmware allows physically proximate attackers to obtain an unrestricted shell via the serial port. Hikvision has not disclosed how serial-port authentication is improperly implemented; the flaw exposes the unrestricted shell after a direct serial connection. Exploitation requires physical access to a DS-7104HGHI-F1 or DS-7204HGHI-F1 device and results in shell-level control of the DVR.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-66173
- Published
- Dec 19, 2025
- Updated
- Dec 19, 2025
- Vendor
- Hikvision
- Product
- DS-7204HGHI-F1
- Classifications
- CWE-269, T1059
- Attack vector
- physical
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 19, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Dec 19, 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.
- Affected versionversion=Versions below V4.30.122_201107 (including V4.30.122_201107)
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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