---
title: "Critical Flaw in Iskra iHUB Smart Meters Exposes Energy Grids to Attacks"
short_title: "Iskra iHUB smart meters lack critical authentication"
description: "A severe vulnerability (CVE-2025-13510) in Iskra iHUB and iHUB Lite smart meters allows remote attackers to reconfigure devices and manipulate energy systems. Learn how to mitigate risks."
author: "Vitus"
date: 2025-01-24
categories: [Cybersecurity, Vulnerabilities]
tags: [cve-2025-13510, smart-meters, energy-sector, authentication-flaw, critical-vulnerability]
score: 0.93
cve_ids: [CVE-2025-13510]
---
TL;DR
A critical vulnerability (CVE-2025-13510) in Iskra iHUB and iHUB Lite smart metering gateways exposes energy grids to remote attacks. The flaw, rated 9.3 (CVSS v4), allows unauthenticated attackers to reconfigure devices, update firmware, and manipulate connected systems. Energy providers must act immediately to secure affected devices.
---
Main Content
The global energy sector faces a severe cybersecurity threat following the discovery of a critical authentication flaw in Iskra iHUB and iHUB Lite smart metering gateways. This vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-13510, enables remote attackers to exploit exposed web management interfaces without requiring credentials. With a CVSS v4 score of 9.3, the flaw poses a significant risk to energy infrastructure worldwide.
Key Points
- Critical Vulnerability: CVE-2025-13510 allows unauthenticated access to Iskra iHUB and iHUB Lite devices, enabling remote reconfiguration and firmware updates.
- Global Impact: Deployed across energy infrastructure worldwide, these devices are critical to smart metering and data concentration.
- No Vendor Response: Iskra has not responded to coordination requests from CISA, leaving users without official patches or guidance.
- High Exploitability: The flaw is remotely exploitable with low attack complexity, making it a prime target for threat actors.
- Mitigation Urgency: Energy providers must implement network segmentation, firewalls, and secure remote access to reduce exposure.
---
Technical Details
#### Affected Products
The vulnerability impacts all versions of the following Iskra products:
- iHUB (Smart Metering Gateway and Data Concentrator)
- iHUB Lite (Smart Metering Gateway and Data Concentrator)
#### Vulnerability Overview
The flaw, classified as [CWE-306: Missing Authentication for Critical Function](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/306.html), exposes the web management interface of affected devices. Unauthenticated users can:
- Access and modify critical device settings.
- Deploy unauthorized firmware updates.
- Manipulate connected energy systems, potentially disrupting operations.
#### CVSS Scores
- CVSS v3.1: 9.1 (`AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N`)
- CVSS v4: 9.3 (`AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
#### Background
- Critical Infrastructure Sector: Energy
- Deployment: Worldwide
- Vendor Headquarters: Slovenia
#### Researcher
The vulnerability was reported to CISA by security researcher Souvik Kandar.
---
Impact Assessment
The exploitation of CVE-2025-13510 could have catastrophic consequences for energy providers and consumers:
- Operational Disruption: Attackers could manipulate smart meters to disrupt energy distribution, leading to outages or inaccurate billing.
- Data Integrity Risks: Unauthorized access may allow tampering with consumption data, compromising billing systems and regulatory compliance.
- Supply Chain Attacks: Compromised devices could serve as entry points for larger-scale attacks on energy grids.
- Regulatory Fallout: Energy providers may face fines, legal action, or reputational damage for failing to secure critical infrastructure.
---
Mitigation Steps
Iskra has not provided official patches or guidance. However, CISA recommends the following defensive measures to minimize risk:
#### Immediate Actions
1. Isolate Affected Devices:
- Minimize network exposure for all control system devices.
- Ensure affected devices are not accessible from the internet.
2. Segment Networks:
- Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls.
- Isolate them from business networks to limit lateral movement.
3. Secure Remote Access:
- Use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for remote access, ensuring they are updated to the latest version.
- Recognize that VPNs are only as secure as the connected devices.
#### Long-Term Strategies
- Monitor for Malicious Activity: Implement intrusion detection systems (IDS) to identify suspicious behavior.
- Conduct Risk Assessments: Perform impact analysis and risk assessments before deploying defensive measures.
- Follow Best Practices: Adhere to CISA’s [recommended practices for ICS security](https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/ics-recommended-practices).
- Stay Informed: Regularly review CISA’s [ICS advisories](https://www.cisa.gov/topics/industrial-control-systems) for updates.
---
Conclusion
The discovery of CVE-2025-13510 in Iskra iHUB and iHUB Lite devices underscores the critical importance of securing smart metering infrastructure. With no official patches available, energy providers must act swiftly to implement network-level protections and reduce exposure. Failure to address this vulnerability could result in widespread disruptions, financial losses, and compromised energy grids.
As the energy sector continues to digitize, stakeholders must prioritize cybersecurity hygiene and adopt proactive defense strategies to safeguard critical infrastructure from evolving threats.
---
References
[^1]: CISA. "[ICS Advisory (ICSA-25-336-02) - Iskra iHUB and iHUB Lite](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-25-336-02)". Retrieved 2025-01-24.
[^2]: MITRE. "[CWE-306: Missing Authentication for Critical Function](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/306.html)". Retrieved 2025-01-24.
[^3]: CVE. "[CVE-2025-13510 Detail](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-13510)". Retrieved 2025-01-24.