CVE-2025-0250 is a vulnerability identified in HCL Software's IEM product, specifically version 1.2. The issue pertains to the handling of an authorization token that is transmitted in cleartext within a cookie. This token is used for authentication and authorization purposes, and its exposure in an unencrypted form increases the risk of interception by unauthorized parties. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-319, which relates to the cleartext transmission of sensitive information. In this context, the token's transmission without encryption or adequate protection could allow attackers to capture the token via network sniffing or man-in-the-middle attacks, potentially leading to unauthorized access if other conditions are met. However, the CVSS v3.1 base score is 2.2, indicating a low severity level. The vector string (AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N) shows that the attack vector is network-based, but requires high attack complexity and privileges, with no user interaction needed. The impact on confidentiality is limited (low), and there is no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. This suggests the vulnerability is recognized but not actively exploited or widely impactful at this time.

For European organizations using HCL IEM version 1.2, the primary risk is the potential interception of authorization tokens during network transmission. Although the severity is low, if an attacker with sufficient privileges and network access manages to capture these tokens, they could potentially impersonate authorized users or escalate privileges within the system. This could lead to unauthorized access to monitoring or management functions provided by IEM, possibly exposing operational data or control capabilities. However, given the high complexity and privilege requirements, the likelihood of exploitation is low. The impact on confidentiality is limited, and there is no direct impact on data integrity or system availability. European organizations with sensitive operational environments or those subject to strict data protection regulations should still consider this vulnerability seriously, as token interception could contravene compliance requirements related to data security and privacy.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Ensure that all communications involving authentication tokens are conducted over secure channels such as TLS/SSL to prevent interception. 2) Review and enforce secure cookie attributes, including the 'Secure' and 'HttpOnly' flags, to restrict token exposure to client-side scripts and ensure transmission only over encrypted connections. 3) Implement network segmentation and strict access controls to limit exposure of the IEM system to trusted networks and users with necessary privileges. 4) Monitor network traffic for unusual activity that could indicate token interception attempts. 5) Stay updated with HCL Software advisories for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 6) Consider additional authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of token misuse. 7) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on token handling and transmission security within the IEM environment.