Quantenna Wi-Fi chipset: Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality
CVE-2025-3461 is a critical-severity missing authentication for critical functionality vulnerability in Quantenna Wi-Fi chipset from ON Semiconductor, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected Quantenna Wi-Fi chipset versions: 8.0.0.28 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.58% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.
What to do
- Check which version of Quantenna Wi-Fi chipset you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| ON Semiconductor | Quantenna Wi-Fi chipset | 8.0.0.28 and earlier | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qhs710 Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qsr10ga Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qsr10gu Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qv840 Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qv840c Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qv860 Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qv940 Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qv942c Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qv952c Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qcs-ax2-s5 Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qcs-ax3-a12 Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qcs-ax3-t12 Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qcs-ax3-t8 Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qcs-ax3-s5 Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qcs-ax2-a12 Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qcs-ax2-t12 Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qcs-ax2-t8 Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
| Onsemi | Qd840 Firmware | Not specified in the record | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.1 | Critical | CNA (takeonme.org) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.8 | Critical | NVD |
Official description
The Quantenna Wi-Fi chips ship with an unauthenticated telnet interface by default. This is an instance of CWE-306, "Missing Authentication for Critical Function," and is estimated as a CVSS 9.1 (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N). This issue affects Quantenna Wi-Fi chipset through version 8.0.0.28 of the latest SDK, and appears to be unpatched at the time of this CVE record's first publishing, though the vendor has released a best practices guide for implementors of this chipset.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality
The product does not perform any authentication for functionality that requires a provable user identity or consumes a significant amount of resources.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For any security checks that are performed on the client side, ensure that these checks are duplicated on the server side, in order to avoid CWE-602. Attackers can bypass the client-side checks by modifying values after the checks have been performed, or by changing the client to remove the client-side checks entirely. Then, these modified values would be submitted to the server.
- Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, consider using libraries with authentication capabilities such as OpenSSL or the ESAPI Authenticator.
- When storing data in the cloud (e.g., S3 buckets, Azure blobs, Google Cloud Storage, etc.), use the provider's controls to require strong authentication for users who should be allowed to access the data.
More Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality vulnerabilities (CWE-306)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Technical write-ups (may include proof of concept)
- takeonme.org/cves/cve-2025-3461/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in Quantenna Wi-Fi chipset
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Recent Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality vulnerabilities
- 9.0 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.3 Critical severity
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