CVE-2025-1731: CVE-2025-1731: An incorrect permission assignment vulnerability in the PostgreSQL commands of the Zyxel U…

What it is

An incorrect permission assignment vulnerability in the PostgreSQL commands of the Zyxel USG FLEX H series uOS firmware versions from V1.20 through V1.31 could allow an authenticated local attacker with low privileges to gain access to the Linux shell and escalate their privileges by crafting malicious scripts or modifying system configurations with administrator-level access through a stolen token. Modifying the system configuration is only possible if the administrator has not logged out and the token remains valid.

Exploitation evidence

First exploit evidence seen: 2025-05-18 (earliest date across the sources below).

Exploited in the wild

No source on this site lists in-the-wild exploitation yet (CISA KEV, VulnCheck KEV).

Public exploit code

Exploit-DB

• EDB-52293: Zyxel USG FLEX H series uOS 1.31 - Privilege Escalation (2025-05-18)

Sources: Exploit-DB (OffSec).

How to fix it

Fixed versions

• zyxel uos: upgrade to 1.32 or later (affected from 1.20)

Derived from the NVD CPE configuration (versionEndExcluding / versionEndIncluding). Always confirm with the vendor advisory.

Vendor advisories and patches

• https://www.zyxel.com/global/en/support/security-advisories/zyxel-security-advisory-for-incorrect-permission-assignment-and-improper-privilege-management-vulnerabilities-in-usg-flex-h-series-firewalls-04-22-2025 (Vendor Advisory)

MITRE ATT&CK mitigations for this chain

• M1051 Update Software (for T1068) : Update software regularly by employing patch management for internal enterprise endpoints and servers.
• M1050 Exploit Protection (for T1068) : Security applications that look for behavior used during exploitation such as Windows Defender Exploit Guard (WDEG) and the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) can be used to mitigate some exploitation behavior. Control flow integrity checking is another way to potentially identify and stop a software exploi
• M1048 Application Isolation and Sandboxing (for T1068) : Make it difficult for adversaries to advance their operation through exploitation of undiscovered or unpatched vulnerabilities by using sandboxing. Other types of virtualization and application microsegmentation may also mitigate the impact of some types of exploitation. Risks of additional exploits and weaknesses in t
• M1019 Threat Intelligence Program (for T1068) : Develop a robust cyber threat intelligence capability to determine what types and levels of threat may use software exploits and 0-days against a particular organization.
• M1038 Execution Prevention (for T1068) : Consider blocking the execution of known vulnerable drivers that adversaries may exploit to execute code in kernel mode. Validate driver block rules in audit mode to ensure stability prior to production deployment.

Detection Generic guidance

• Privilege Escalation: Alert on processes gaining SYSTEM/root unexpectedly, and on exploitation crashes of privileged services.

Response checklist Generic guidance

1. Inventory: find every instance of the affected product and version (include internet-facing and forgotten ones).
2. Patch or mitigate per the vendor advisory; if you cannot patch, remove internet exposure or apply the vendor workaround.
3. Assume compromise if the system was exposed before patching: hunt for the indicators in the advisory and review logs back to the disclosure date.
4. Rotate credentials and secrets stored on or used by the affected system if compromise cannot be ruled out.