CVE-2025-10769 is a medium severity vulnerability identified in the h2oai h2o-3 product, specifically affecting versions up to 3.46.08. The vulnerability arises from unsafe deserialization within the H2 JDBC Driver component, particularly in an unknown function related to the /99/ImportSQLTable file. The attack vector involves manipulation of the 'connection_url' argument, which is deserialized insecurely, allowing an attacker to remotely execute malicious code or manipulate application behavior without requiring user interaction or prior authentication. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network with low attack complexity and no privileges required, but it does require some level of access to the service endpoint that processes the connection_url parameter. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 5.3, reflecting a medium severity rating, with partial impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vendor was notified but has not responded or issued a patch, and while public exploit details have been disclosed, no known exploits in the wild have been reported yet. This vulnerability could lead to remote code execution or unauthorized data manipulation if exploited, posing a significant risk to systems running the affected h2o-3 versions, especially in environments where the H2 JDBC Driver is exposed to untrusted networks or users.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability could be substantial, particularly for those relying on h2o-3 for machine learning, data analytics, or AI-driven applications that integrate with SQL databases via the H2 JDBC Driver. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, manipulation of data integrity, or disruption of critical AI workflows. This may result in data breaches, loss of intellectual property, or operational downtime. Given the remote exploitability and lack of required authentication, attackers could leverage this vulnerability to pivot within networks, potentially compromising other connected systems. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and research—where AI and data analytics are heavily utilized—may face increased risks. Additionally, the vendor's lack of response and absence of patches heighten the urgency for organizations to implement compensating controls to mitigate exposure.

Since no official patch is available, European organizations should take immediate steps to reduce risk. First, restrict network access to the h2o-3 service, especially the endpoints handling the H2 JDBC Driver and the ImportSQLTable functionality, using firewalls and network segmentation to limit exposure to trusted users and systems only. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on the connection_url parameter if possible, or disable the vulnerable ImportSQLTable feature if it is not essential. Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual or suspicious activity related to deserialization or JDBC connections. Employ runtime application self-protection (RASP) or web application firewalls (WAF) with custom rules to detect and block deserialization attack patterns. Additionally, consider deploying intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) tuned for this vulnerability. Organizations should also plan for rapid patch deployment once the vendor releases an official fix and maintain an incident response plan tailored to potential exploitation scenarios involving deserialization vulnerabilities.