CVE-2025-12405 is an improper privilege management vulnerability classified under CWE-269, discovered in Google Cloud Looker Studio, specifically impacting all JDBC-based connectors. The core issue arises because Looker Studio stores database credentials within reports, allowing users with only report view access to create copies of reports and execute arbitrary SQL commands on the connected data source. This occurs because the copied report retains the stored credentials, effectively elevating the privileges of a low-privileged user to execute potentially harmful SQL queries. The vulnerability compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the underlying databases by enabling unauthorized data retrieval, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on November 10, 2025, with a patch released earlier on July 21, 2025. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 7.7 (high severity), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, partial privileges required, no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No known exploits have been observed in the wild, but the ease of exploitation and the potential impact make timely patching critical. The vulnerability affects all versions prior to the patch and is particularly concerning for organizations relying heavily on Looker Studio for business intelligence and data analytics connected via JDBC.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to sensitive data managed through Looker Studio, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure where JDBC connectors are commonly used. Unauthorized SQL execution could lead to data breaches, unauthorized data manipulation, or disruption of services relying on the affected databases. The breach of confidentiality could expose personal data protected under GDPR, leading to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Integrity violations could corrupt critical business data, affecting decision-making and operational continuity. Availability impacts could arise if attackers execute destructive SQL commands. Since the vulnerability requires only report view access, insider threats or compromised low-privilege accounts could be leveraged to exploit this flaw. The high adoption of Google Cloud services in Europe means many organizations could be exposed if patches are not applied promptly.

Organizations should immediately verify that their Looker Studio instances are updated to the patched version released on July 21, 2025. Beyond patching, administrators should audit user permissions to ensure that report view access is granted only to trusted users and consider implementing stricter access controls or role-based access management to limit exposure. Monitoring and logging of report copying activities and SQL query executions should be enhanced to detect suspicious behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Where possible, segregate sensitive data sources and limit JDBC connector usage to essential reports only. Employ network segmentation and database-level access controls to minimize the impact of any unauthorized SQL execution. Regularly review and rotate database credentials used by Looker Studio to reduce risk from credential leakage. Finally, conduct security awareness training to inform users about the risks associated with report sharing and copying.