CVE-2025-12397 is a SQL injection vulnerability identified in Google Cloud Looker Studio, specifically impacting reports that utilize BigQuery as their data source. The flaw arises from improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands (CWE-89), allowing a user with report view access to inject malicious SQL code. This injected SQL executes with the permissions of the report owner, which can lead to unauthorized data access, data manipulation, or potential data exfiltration. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require the attacker to have at least report view privileges, which is a relatively low privilege level in many organizations. The attack vector is network-based with low complexity, and the vulnerability affects confidentiality and integrity with high impact, but availability impact is limited. The vulnerability was patched by Google on July 21, 2025, and no customer action was initially required, implying an automatic or managed patch deployment. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, but the potential for abuse remains significant due to the sensitive nature of data accessible via Looker Studio and BigQuery. This vulnerability highlights the risks of insufficient input validation in cloud-based analytics platforms and the importance of strict access controls and timely patching.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive business intelligence data stored and analyzed within Google Cloud Looker Studio and BigQuery. Attackers exploiting this flaw could gain unauthorized access to proprietary or personal data, potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. The ability to execute SQL with report owner permissions means attackers could manipulate data or extract sensitive information, leading to financial loss, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties. Organizations heavily reliant on cloud analytics and reporting, especially those in finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure sectors, face elevated risks. The vulnerability could also facilitate lateral movement within cloud environments if attackers leverage compromised data or credentials. Although no availability impact is noted, the breach of data confidentiality and integrity alone is critical. The fact that no user interaction is needed and the attack complexity is low increases the threat level. European entities must ensure that their cloud analytics environments are patched and access controls are strictly enforced to mitigate these risks.

1. Verify that all Google Cloud Looker Studio instances are updated to the patched version released on July 21, 2025. 2. Conduct an audit of report access permissions, ensuring that only trusted users have report view access, minimizing the attack surface. 3. Implement strict role-based access controls (RBAC) and least privilege principles for Looker Studio and BigQuery users. 4. Monitor Looker Studio logs and BigQuery query logs for unusual or unexpected SQL queries that could indicate attempted exploitation. 5. Use Google Cloud’s security tools to enforce data loss prevention (DLP) policies and anomaly detection on query patterns. 6. Educate users about the risks of sharing report access broadly and encourage secure collaboration practices. 7. Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAF) or SQL injection detection/prevention tools where applicable to monitor and block malicious SQL injection attempts. 8. Regularly review and update incident response plans to include cloud analytics platforms and potential SQL injection scenarios. 9. Engage with Google Cloud support to confirm patch status and receive guidance on best practices for securing Looker Studio environments.