CVE-2025-9964Public exploit

Root console access via empty password

Published Sep 23, 2025 · Updated Mar 31, 2026

Weak authentication in Novakon P Series HMI firmware before P-V2005 allows physically proximate attackers to obtain root console access. The root entry in /etc/shadow contains an empty password hash, so the console login accepts the root account with an empty password. Physical access to the HMI console is required, after which root privileges permit arbitrary commands and full device control.

CVSS severity8.6
High
EPSS probability0.22%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Weak authentication in Novakon P Series HMI firmware before P-V2005 allows physically proximate attackers to obtain root console access. The root entry in /etc/shadow contains an empty password hash, so the console login accepts the root account with an empty password. Physical access to the HMI console is required, after which root privileges permit arbitrary commands and full device control.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-9964
Published
Sep 23, 2025
Updated
Mar 31, 2026
Vendor
Novakon Co., Ltd.
Product
P Series HMI
Classifications
CWE-521, CAPEC-70, T1078.001
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 23, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 31, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=P – V2001.A.c518o2 <=P-V2005

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Novakon Co., Ltd. · P Series HMIversion=P – V2001.A.c518o2 <=P-V2005

Published CVSS scores

8.6CyberDanubeCVSS:4.0/AV:P/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA: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)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-521Weak Password Requirements
CAPEC-70Try Common or Default Usernames and Passwords
T1078.001Default Accounts

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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