CVE-2025-0249 is a security vulnerability identified in HCL Software's IEM product, specifically version 1.2. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-287, which pertains to improper authentication. The core issue involves the improper invalidation of access tokens or JSON Web Tokens (JWTs). In this scenario, tokens that should have been invalidated remain valid, potentially allowing attackers to reuse them to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. This flaw arises because the system fails to properly revoke or expire tokens upon certain events, such as logout or session termination, thereby permitting continued access without re-authentication. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 3.3, indicating a low severity level. The vector metrics specify that the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires high attack complexity (AC:H), requires privileges (PR:H), does not require user interaction (UI:N), and impacts confidentiality and integrity to a low degree (C:L/I:L), with no impact on availability (A:N). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or fixes have been linked yet. The vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker who already has high privileges within the system or network, leveraging the improper token invalidation to maintain or escalate access without triggering re-authentication mechanisms. This could lead to unauthorized data exposure or modification within the HCL IEM environment.

For European organizations using HCL IEM version 1.2, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data managed by the platform. Although the CVSS score is low, the requirement for high privileges to exploit the vulnerability means that the threat is more relevant in scenarios where insider threats or compromised privileged accounts exist. If exploited, attackers could maintain unauthorized access by reusing tokens that should have been invalidated, potentially bypassing security controls designed to limit session duration or access scope. This could lead to data leakage, unauthorized data modification, or lateral movement within the network. Given that HCL IEM is often used for IT operations management and monitoring, unauthorized access could also allow attackers to manipulate monitoring data or conceal malicious activities. The impact on European organizations depends on the extent of HCL IEM deployment, the sensitivity of data handled, and the robustness of existing privilege management and monitoring controls. Since no known exploits are active, the immediate risk is moderate, but organizations should proactively address the vulnerability to prevent future exploitation.

1. Implement strict privilege management and monitoring to detect and prevent misuse of high-privilege accounts, as exploitation requires such privileges. 2. Enforce short token lifetimes and implement manual or automated token revocation mechanisms where possible, to minimize the window of opportunity for token reuse. 3. Monitor logs for unusual token reuse or session anomalies that could indicate exploitation attempts. 4. Apply network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of HCL IEM systems to only trusted and necessary users and devices. 5. Engage with HCL Software support to obtain official patches or updates addressing this vulnerability as soon as they become available. 6. Consider implementing additional authentication layers or session management controls external to HCL IEM to compensate for the token invalidation weakness. 7. Conduct regular security audits and penetration tests focusing on authentication and session management within the HCL IEM environment.