CVE-2025-0280 is a high-severity security vulnerability affecting HCL Software's Compass product, specifically versions up to and including 2.2.7. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-257, which involves storing passwords in a recoverable format. This means that passwords within the Compass application are stored in a manner that allows them to be decrypted or otherwise retrieved in plaintext, rather than being irreversibly hashed or securely protected. An attacker who exploits this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to the underlying database by recovering stored passwords. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 reflects a high severity level, with the vector indicating that the attack requires local access (AV:L), high attack complexity (AC:H), low privileges (PR:L), and user interaction (UI:R). The scope is changed (S:C), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the potential for privilege escalation and data compromise. The vulnerability arises from improper password storage mechanisms, which could allow attackers with some level of access to the system or user interaction to extract sensitive credentials, leading to broader system compromise and data breaches.

For European organizations using HCL Compass, this vulnerability could lead to severe consequences. Unauthorized database access can result in exposure of sensitive business data, intellectual property, and personal data protected under GDPR. The compromise of credentials stored in a recoverable format increases the risk of lateral movement within corporate networks, potentially affecting multiple systems and services. Given the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, organizations could face operational disruptions, financial losses, and reputational damage. Additionally, data breaches involving personal data could trigger regulatory penalties under European data protection laws. The requirement for local access and user interaction somewhat limits remote exploitation, but insider threats or social engineering attacks could still exploit this vulnerability. Organizations in sectors with high compliance requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and government, are particularly at risk due to the sensitivity of their data and the critical nature of their operations.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize upgrading HCL Compass to a version later than 2.2.7 once a patch is released by HCL Software. In the absence of an immediate patch, organizations should implement strict access controls to limit local access to systems running Compass, including enforcing the principle of least privilege and monitoring user activities for suspicious behavior. Additionally, organizations should audit stored passwords and credentials within Compass and related systems to identify and remediate insecure storage practices. Employing multi-factor authentication (MFA) can reduce the risk of unauthorized access even if credentials are compromised. Network segmentation should be used to isolate Compass servers from critical infrastructure to limit lateral movement. Regular security awareness training should be conducted to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that could facilitate exploitation. Finally, organizations should prepare incident response plans specific to credential compromise scenarios and monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability.