Critical Infrastructure at Risk: Honeywell CCTV Authentication Bypass Flaw Demands Immediate Action

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued an urgent warning about a critical vulnerability affecting multiple Honeywell CCTV products that could allow attackers to bypass authentication and gain unauthorized access to surveillance systems used in critical infrastructure.

Critical Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-1670 and discovered by researcher Souvik Kanda, has been assigned a critical severity score of 9.8 out of 10. The flaw is classified as "missing authentication for critical function" and specifically allows unauthenticated attackers to change the recovery email address associated with device accounts, enabling complete account takeover.

"The affected product is vulnerable to an unauthenticated API endpoint exposure, which may allow an attacker to remotely change the 'forgot password' recovery email address," CISA stated in its security advisory.

Affected Honeywell Models

According to CISA's advisory, the following Honeywell CCTV models are impacted:

• I-HIB2PI-UL 2MP IP 6.1.22.1216 SMB NDAA MVO-3 WDR_2MP_32M_PTZ_v2.0 PTZ WDR 2MP 32M
• WDR_2MP_32M_PTZ_v2.0 25M IPC WDR_2MP_32M_PTZ_v2.0

These specific model families represent mid-level video surveillance products commonly deployed in small to medium business environments, offices, warehouses, and potentially critical facilities.

Critical Infrastructure Implications

Honeywell is a major global supplier of security and video surveillance equipment with a broad range of CCTV camera models and related products deployed in commercial, industrial, and critical infrastructure settings worldwide. The company offers many NDAA-compliant cameras suitable for deployment in U.S. government agencies and federal contractors.

This vulnerability is particularly concerning because:

• It affects devices used in critical infrastructure environments
• The attack requires no authentication
• It enables complete account takeover
• It could provide unauthorized access to sensitive surveillance feeds
• The severity score of 9.8 indicates extreme risk

Current Threat Landscape

As of February 17th, CISA reported no known instances of public exploitation specifically targeting this vulnerability. However, given the critical nature of the flaw and the widespread deployment of affected devices in sensitive environments, security experts recommend treating this vulnerability with the highest priority.

Recommended Mitigation Steps

CISA has provided several immediate recommendations for organizations using affected Honeywell CCTV products:

Network Security Measures

• Minimize network exposure for all control system devices
• Ensure critical devices are not directly accessible from the Internet
• Locate control system networks and remote devices behind firewalls
• Isolate control system networks from business networks

Secure Remote Access

• When remote access is required, use secure methods such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
• Recognize that VPN security depends on connected device security
• Ensure VPN solutions are updated to the latest version available

Vendor Communication

Honeywell has not yet published an official advisory on CVE-2026-1670. Organizations using affected devices should:

• Contact Honeywell's support team immediately for patch guidance
• Request information about available security updates
• Inquire about temporary mitigation measures
• Document all communications for compliance purposes

Broader Context: Recent Critical Infrastructure Vulnerabilities

This Honeywell vulnerability comes amid a wave of critical security issues affecting enterprise and infrastructure systems. Recent examples include:

• CISA's three-day deadline for federal agencies to patch an actively exploited BeyondTrust flaw
• Hackers breaching SmarterTools networks using vulnerabilities in their own software
• Active exploitation of four enterprise software bugs confirmed by CISA
• Critical telnetd authentication bypass flaws being exploited for root access

These incidents highlight the increasing sophistication of attacks targeting critical infrastructure and the importance of rapid vulnerability response.

Expert Analysis and Industry Response

Security experts emphasize that authentication bypass vulnerabilities in surveillance systems pose unique risks because they can provide attackers with visual intelligence about target environments, potential access points, and operational patterns.

"When attackers can bypass authentication on CCTV systems, they're not just getting video feeds—they're potentially mapping out security blind spots, monitoring response patterns, and gathering intelligence for more sophisticated attacks," explains a cybersecurity analyst specializing in physical security systems.

The lack of an official Honeywell advisory as of publication date is concerning, as organizations need clear guidance on patch availability and implementation timelines. This delay could leave many critical infrastructure facilities exposed while waiting for vendor response.

Immediate Actions Required

Organizations using Honeywell CCTV equipment should take the following immediate actions:

1. Inventory Assessment: Identify all affected Honeywell CCTV models in your deployment
2. Network Segmentation: Implement strict network isolation for all surveillance systems
3. Vendor Contact: Immediately contact Honeywell support for patch information
4. Temporary Controls: Implement compensating controls while waiting for patches
5. Monitoring: Increase monitoring of CCTV system access and configuration changes
6. Documentation: Maintain detailed records of all mitigation efforts for compliance

Long-term Security Considerations

This incident underscores the need for organizations to:

• Implement defense-in-depth strategies for physical security systems
• Regularly audit authentication mechanisms on all security devices
• Maintain current inventory of all connected security equipment
• Establish rapid response procedures for critical vulnerabilities
• Consider security by design when selecting surveillance equipment

The authentication bypass vulnerability in Honeywell CCTV systems represents a significant threat to organizations relying on these devices for security and surveillance. With a critical severity score of 9.8 and the potential for complete account takeover, immediate action is essential to protect sensitive surveillance feeds and prevent unauthorized access to critical infrastructure environments.

The combination of widespread deployment, critical infrastructure use, and the severity of the vulnerability makes CVE-2026-1670 a top priority for security teams across affected organizations. While no public exploitation has been reported yet, the window for proactive mitigation is closing rapidly.