# CVE-2025-9146: Linksys E5600 Firmware checkFw.sh verify_gemtek_header risky encryption

> Attackers can exploit weak cryptographic algorithms in the firmware verification process to bypass security checks on Linksys E5600 routers.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:H/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 19 Aug 2025
- **Updated:** 19 Aug 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-9j2h-mcj7-4233

## What is CVE-2025-9146?

CVE-2025-9146 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linksys E5600, published on 19 Aug 2025. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A flaw has been found in Linksys E5600 1.1.0.26. The affected element is the function verify_gemtek_header of the file checkFw.sh of the component Firmware Handler. Executing manipulation can lead to risky cryptographic algorithm. The attack may be launched remotely. The attack requires a high level of complexity. The exploitability is described as difficult. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.

Weakness: CWE-327 (Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm), CWE-310

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-9146?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linksys E5600 Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2025-9146?

No fix has been published for CVE-2025-9146 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2025-9146 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-9146 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linksys E5600

- [CVE-2025-29228](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-29228/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-29229](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-29229/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-45491](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-45491/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2024-33789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-33789/): Command injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-29230](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-29230/): Command injection in n/a (high 8.6)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2025-9146 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2025-9146 is a high-severity vulnerability in Linksys E5600, published on 19 Aug 2025. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-9146 exists.

Affected product: Linksys E5600. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-9146/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-9146/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-9146
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-9146
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2025-9146

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-9146/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.