CVE-2025-0111 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software, specifically affecting the Cloud NGFW product line. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-73, which pertains to External Control of File Name or Path. This flaw allows an authenticated attacker with network access to the management web interface to read arbitrary files on the PAN-OS filesystem that are accessible by the 'nobody' user. The vulnerability does not require user interaction or elevated privileges beyond authentication to the management interface, making it relatively easier to exploit once access is gained. The attacker can leverage this flaw to access sensitive configuration files or other data that could facilitate further attacks or information disclosure. Notably, the vulnerability does not affect the Cloud NGFW or Prisma Access software, indicating a more limited scope within Palo Alto's product portfolio. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 7.1, reflecting a high severity due to network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required beyond authentication, and a significant confidentiality impact. The vulnerability does not impact integrity or availability directly. Palo Alto Networks recommends restricting management interface access to trusted internal IP addresses as a primary mitigation strategy, aligning with best practice deployment guidelines to reduce exposure. No public exploits are known at this time, and no patches have been explicitly linked in the provided data, suggesting that organizations should prioritize access control and monitoring until a patch is available.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-0111 can be significant, especially for enterprises and service providers relying on Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW for perimeter and cloud security. Unauthorized file read access could lead to exposure of sensitive configuration data, credentials, or other operational information, potentially enabling lateral movement, privilege escalation, or further compromise within the network. This is particularly critical for sectors with stringent data protection requirements such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, where confidentiality breaches can lead to regulatory penalties under GDPR and other frameworks. The vulnerability's exploitation could undermine trust in network security controls and expose organizations to espionage or sabotage. Since the vulnerability requires authenticated access to the management interface, the risk is heightened if management interfaces are exposed beyond trusted internal networks or if credential compromise occurs. European organizations with remote management practices or insufficient network segmentation may be more vulnerable. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits once the vulnerability is publicly disclosed.

To mitigate CVE-2025-0111 effectively, European organizations should implement strict network segmentation and access controls for the management web interface of PAN-OS devices. This includes limiting access exclusively to trusted internal IP addresses and employing VPNs or jump hosts for remote management to prevent unauthorized network access. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) should be enforced for all management interface logins to reduce the risk of credential compromise. Organizations should audit and monitor management interface access logs for unusual activity and implement alerting for anomalous file read attempts. Regularly updating and patching PAN-OS software is critical once a vendor patch becomes available. Until patches are released, consider disabling or restricting management interface exposure on public or less secure networks. Employing network intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to detect suspicious management interface traffic can provide additional defense layers. Finally, conduct periodic security assessments and penetration tests focusing on management interface security to identify and remediate potential weaknesses proactively.