CVE-2025-13161 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-23 (Relative Path Traversal) affecting IQ-Support version 1.0, a product developed by IQ Service International. The flaw allows unauthenticated remote attackers to exploit improper input validation in file path handling, enabling them to traverse directories and read arbitrary files from the underlying operating system. This arbitrary file read vulnerability can expose sensitive configuration files, credentials, or other critical data stored on the server. The vulnerability requires no privileges or user interaction, making it highly accessible to attackers over the network. The CVSS 4.0 vector (AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N) indicates network attack vector, low complexity, no authentication, no user interaction, and a high impact on confidentiality, with no impact on integrity or availability. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the ease of exploitation and the potential for sensitive data disclosure make this a significant threat. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates immediate mitigation through compensating controls. The vulnerability's presence in version 1.0 suggests that organizations running this initial release are vulnerable until updates or patches are issued. Given the nature of the flaw, attackers could leverage this to gain intelligence for further attacks or to compromise systems indirectly by harvesting sensitive information.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-13161 is primarily the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, which can lead to further exploitation such as credential theft, lateral movement, or targeted attacks. Organizations in sectors like manufacturing, critical infrastructure, and service industries that rely on IQ-Support for operational support or maintenance could face significant confidentiality breaches. Exposure of system files might reveal internal network configurations, user credentials, or proprietary data, increasing the risk of espionage or sabotage. The vulnerability's unauthenticated nature means attackers can exploit it remotely without needing insider access, increasing the attack surface. This could lead to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if personal or sensitive data is exposed. Additionally, the reputational damage and operational disruptions from such breaches could be substantial, especially for organizations with high dependency on IQ-Support for their IT or operational workflows.

1. Immediately restrict network access to the IQ-Support service using firewalls or network segmentation to limit exposure to trusted internal users only. 2. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all file path parameters if custom configurations or temporary fixes are possible before vendor patches are available. 3. Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual file access patterns or attempts to traverse directories via the IQ-Support interface. 4. Engage with IQ Service International to obtain timelines for official patches or updates addressing this vulnerability. 5. Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block path traversal attempts targeting IQ-Support endpoints. 6. Conduct an inventory of all systems running IQ-Support 1.0 and prioritize patching or isolation of vulnerable instances. 7. Educate IT and security teams about the vulnerability to ensure rapid detection and response to exploitation attempts. 8. Prepare incident response plans specific to data disclosure incidents stemming from this vulnerability.