CVE-2025-0636 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command), affecting the EMCLI component of Ericsson Site Controller 6610. The flaw allows an attacker to inject malicious OS commands due to insufficient sanitization of input that is passed to the operating system shell. This vulnerability can be exploited remotely with low attack complexity, requiring only low privileges and user interaction, which might involve tricking an authorized user into triggering the malicious input. Successful exploitation results in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the EMCLI process, potentially leading to full system compromise including confidentiality breaches, data manipulation, and denial of service. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.4, reflecting high severity with critical impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no public exploits are known at this time, the nature of the vulnerability and the critical role of the affected product in telecom infrastructure make it a significant threat. The Site Controller 6610 is widely used in telecom networks to manage radio access sites, making this vulnerability particularly impactful in operational technology environments. The lack of available patches at the time of disclosure necessitates immediate mitigation efforts to reduce exposure.

For European organizations, especially telecom operators and infrastructure providers using Ericsson Site Controller 6610, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized control over critical network components, enabling attackers to disrupt telecommunications services, intercept or manipulate sensitive communications, and potentially pivot to other parts of the network. The impact extends beyond service disruption to potential regulatory and compliance violations under GDPR due to confidentiality breaches. Given the strategic importance of telecom infrastructure in Europe, successful exploitation could affect national security, emergency services, and economic activities reliant on stable communications. The vulnerability's ability to compromise system integrity and availability could cause prolonged outages and expensive remediation efforts. Organizations operating in countries with dense Ericsson deployments or critical infrastructure sectors are particularly vulnerable to targeted attacks leveraging this flaw.

Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting access to the EMCLI interface by implementing strict network segmentation and firewall rules to limit exposure to trusted management networks only. Organizations should enforce multi-factor authentication and monitor EMCLI usage logs for suspicious activity. Input validation controls should be enhanced to detect and block malicious command injection attempts at the application layer. Until an official patch is released by Ericsson, consider deploying virtual patching via intrusion prevention systems (IPS) that can detect and block exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Regularly update and audit user privileges to ensure least privilege principles are enforced, minimizing the potential impact of compromised accounts. Additionally, conduct thorough security awareness training for personnel with EMCLI access to reduce the risk of social engineering leading to user interaction exploitation. Once available, promptly apply vendor-supplied patches and verify their effectiveness through penetration testing and vulnerability scanning.