CVE-2025-13432 is an authorization bypass vulnerability classified under CWE-863, found in HashiCorp Terraform Enterprise version 1.0.0. Terraform Enterprise manages infrastructure as code and maintains state versions to track infrastructure changes. The vulnerability arises because users with certain limited permissions can create new Terraform state versions without having full authorization. This flaw allows these users to prepare potentially malicious or unauthorized infrastructure changes. If a user with approval permissions subsequently approves the plan or if the plan is auto-applied, these unauthorized changes can be implemented, leading to integrity violations in the managed infrastructure. The vulnerability does not expose confidential data nor does it cause denial of service but can lead to unauthorized infrastructure modifications, which may disrupt operations or introduce security risks. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium severity), reflecting network attack vector, low complexity, required privileges, no user interaction, and impact limited to integrity. The issue was addressed in Terraform Enterprise versions 1.1.1 and 1.0.3. No known exploits are reported in the wild as of the publication date. The vulnerability highlights the importance of strict authorization checks in infrastructure automation platforms to prevent privilege escalation and unauthorized changes.

For European organizations, especially those heavily reliant on Terraform Enterprise for infrastructure automation and cloud management, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized infrastructure changes. Such changes can lead to misconfigurations, service disruptions, or the introduction of insecure infrastructure components, potentially impacting operational continuity and compliance with regulatory requirements such as GDPR. While the vulnerability does not directly expose sensitive data or cause service outages, the integrity compromise can cascade into broader security incidents or compliance violations. Organizations in sectors with critical infrastructure or stringent regulatory oversight (e.g., finance, healthcare, energy) may face heightened risks. Additionally, unauthorized infrastructure changes could be leveraged as a foothold for further attacks or data exfiltration if combined with other vulnerabilities or insider threats.

1. Upgrade Terraform Enterprise to version 1.1.1 or 1.0.3 immediately to apply the official patch addressing this vulnerability. 2. Review and tighten role-based access controls (RBAC) to ensure users have only the minimum necessary permissions, particularly restricting who can create state versions and approve plans. 3. Implement monitoring and alerting on state version creation and plan approval activities to detect anomalous or unauthorized actions promptly. 4. Enforce multi-person approval workflows for critical infrastructure changes to reduce the risk of unauthorized modifications being applied. 5. Conduct regular audits of Terraform workspace permissions and state version histories to identify and remediate potential abuse. 6. Educate DevOps and security teams about the risks of improper authorization in infrastructure automation tools and promote secure operational practices. 7. Consider network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of Terraform Enterprise interfaces to trusted personnel only.