CVE-2025-12405 is an improper privilege management vulnerability categorized 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 with reports, allowing users with only report view permissions to create copies of reports and execute arbitrary SQL queries on the connected databases. This occurs because the copied report retains the stored credentials, effectively elevating the privileges of a low-privileged user to execute potentially harmful SQL commands. The vulnerability enables unauthorized access to sensitive data, data manipulation, or denial of service on the database backend. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), and privileges at the level of report view access (PR:L). No user interaction is needed (UI:N), and the vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level (VC:H, VI:H, VA:H). The scope remains unchanged (SC:N), and the vulnerability is exploitable remotely without additional authentication beyond report view rights. Google addressed this vulnerability with a patch released on July 21, 2025, and no customer action is currently required. No known exploits have been observed in the wild, but the potential impact is significant given the ability to execute arbitrary SQL commands on critical data sources.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to data confidentiality, integrity, and availability, especially for those relying on Google Cloud Looker Studio for business intelligence and reporting with JDBC connectors. Attackers with minimal privileges could escalate their access to execute arbitrary SQL commands, potentially leading to unauthorized data disclosure, data corruption, or disruption of database services. This could affect compliance with GDPR and other data protection regulations, resulting in legal and financial consequences. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, which often use Looker Studio for data analytics, are particularly vulnerable. The ability to execute arbitrary SQL could also facilitate lateral movement within networks or data exfiltration, increasing the overall threat landscape. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the high CVSS score (7.7) and the nature of the vulnerability warrant immediate attention to prevent potential attacks.

European organizations should ensure that all instances of Google Cloud Looker Studio are updated to the patched version released on July 21, 2025. They should verify that no unpatched versions remain in their environment. Access controls should be reviewed and tightened to limit report view permissions only to trusted users, minimizing the risk of exploitation. Organizations should audit existing reports, especially those using JDBC connectors, to identify and remove any unnecessary stored credentials or sensitive data. Implementing monitoring and alerting on unusual SQL query patterns or report copying activities can help detect exploitation attempts early. Additionally, organizations should enforce the principle of least privilege on database credentials used by Looker Studio and consider segregating sensitive data sources to reduce blast radius. Regular security training for users on the risks of report sharing and copying can further reduce the attack surface.