CVE-2025-0217 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) affecting BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access (PRA) versions prior to 25.1. The flaw allows a local authenticated attacker to bypass intended authentication controls and access connection details of ShellJump sessions that were initiated using external tools. ShellJump is a feature in BeyondTrust PRA that facilitates privileged session connections. The vulnerability arises because the system does not properly restrict access to session details, enabling attackers with low-level privileges on the local machine to escalate their access by viewing and potentially hijacking active sessions. The CVSS 4.0 score of 7.3 reflects a high severity due to the combination of local attack vector, low complexity, partial privileges required, and the significant impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of privileged sessions. Exploitation requires local access and some user interaction, but no known public exploits have been reported yet. This vulnerability poses a risk to organizations relying on BeyondTrust PRA for secure privileged access management, as attackers could leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems through hijacked sessions. The issue underscores the importance of proper authentication and session isolation in privileged access solutions.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-0217 can be significant, especially in sectors that rely heavily on privileged access management such as finance, energy, government, and critical infrastructure. Unauthorized access to ShellJump sessions could lead to exposure of sensitive credentials, unauthorized command execution, and lateral movement within networks. This could result in data breaches, disruption of critical services, and compromise of regulatory compliance obligations such as GDPR. The local nature of the attack means that insider threats or attackers who have gained initial footholds on endpoints could escalate privileges and access sensitive sessions. The high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact means that exploitation could severely undermine trust in privileged access controls, potentially leading to operational downtime and reputational damage.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should immediately upgrade BeyondTrust Privileged Remote Access to version 25.1 or later where the issue is resolved. Until patching is possible, restrict local access to PRA servers and endpoints running the vulnerable software to trusted personnel only. Implement strict endpoint security controls to prevent unauthorized local access, including endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions and strong user account management. Monitor logs for unusual access patterns to ShellJump sessions and enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for local and remote access where supported. Conduct regular audits of privileged session activity and isolate critical PRA infrastructure from general user environments. Additionally, educate administrators and users about the risks of local privilege escalation and session hijacking to reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation.