CVE-2025-12613 is a vulnerability affecting the cloudinary package, specifically versions before 2.7.0. The issue arises from improper parsing of parameter values that include an ampersand character ('&'), which is typically used to separate query parameters. Due to this flawed parsing logic, an attacker can inject additional, unintended parameters into requests processed by cloudinary. This arbitrary argument injection can lead to multiple malicious outcomes, including bypassing security checks, altering or corrupting data, and manipulating the application's behavior in ways not intended by developers. The vulnerability is exploitable remotely over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/UI:N/VC:L/VI:H/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N) reflects a high-severity issue with low attack complexity and no privileges or user interaction needed. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the lack of maintainer response to disclosure attempts raises concerns about timely patch availability. Cloudinary is widely used for image and video management in web applications, making this vulnerability relevant for many organizations relying on cloudinary for media processing and delivery. The vulnerability could be exploited to manipulate media processing parameters, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data tampering, or denial of service conditions.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those heavily reliant on cloudinary for media management in web applications, e-commerce platforms, and digital marketing. Exploitation could allow attackers to bypass security controls, manipulate media content, or disrupt service availability, impacting business operations and user trust. The potential for data integrity compromise and service manipulation could lead to reputational damage, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR if personal data is affected), and financial losses. Organizations in sectors such as media, retail, and online services are particularly vulnerable. The network-exploitable nature and lack of required authentication mean attackers can target exposed services directly, increasing the likelihood of exploitation. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the risk remains high given the ease of exploitation and impact severity.

Immediate mitigation involves upgrading cloudinary to version 2.7.0 or later, where the parsing flaw has been addressed. Organizations should audit their usage of cloudinary parameters, especially those accepting user input, to ensure proper validation and sanitization to prevent injection of malicious parameters. Implementing strict input validation and employing web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting injection patterns can provide additional defense layers. Monitoring application logs for unusual parameter patterns or unexpected behavior related to media processing requests can help detect exploitation attempts early. If upgrading is not immediately feasible, consider isolating or restricting access to vulnerable cloudinary endpoints and applying network-level controls to limit exposure. Engaging with cloudinary support or community forums for updates and patches is advisable given the maintainer's current non-responsiveness. Finally, organizations should incorporate this vulnerability into their risk management and incident response plans to prepare for potential exploitation scenarios.