CVE-2025-1351 is a race condition vulnerability identified in IBM Storage Virtualize versions 8.5, 8.6, and 8.7. The flaw arises from improper synchronization during the login process, allowing concurrent execution using shared resources without adequate locking mechanisms. Specifically, this race condition enables a user to escalate their privileges to those of another user who is logging in simultaneously. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-362, which pertains to concurrent execution issues due to improper synchronization. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.7, indicating a medium severity level. The vector indicates that the attack requires local access (AV:L), high attack complexity (AC:H), low privileges (PR:L), and user interaction (UI:R). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), but the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability could allow an attacker with local access to manipulate the login process to gain unauthorized elevated privileges, potentially compromising sensitive storage management functions. IBM Storage Virtualize is a critical component in enterprise storage infrastructure, managing virtualized storage resources, so exploitation could lead to unauthorized data access, modification, or disruption of storage services.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability could be significant, especially for enterprises relying on IBM Storage Virtualize for critical storage infrastructure. Unauthorized privilege escalation could lead to exposure or manipulation of sensitive data stored within virtualized environments, violating data protection regulations such as GDPR. The integrity of storage management operations could be compromised, potentially causing data corruption or service outages. Given the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, organizations could face operational disruptions, financial losses, and reputational damage. Additionally, since the vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, insider threats or compromised user accounts could be leveraged to exploit this flaw. The medium severity rating suggests that while exploitation is not trivial, the consequences warrant prompt attention in environments where IBM Storage Virtualize is deployed.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize the following actions: 1) Apply patches or updates from IBM as soon as they become available, as no patch links are currently provided but monitoring IBM advisories is critical. 2) Restrict local access to systems running IBM Storage Virtualize to trusted personnel only, enforcing strict access controls and monitoring. 3) Implement multi-factor authentication and robust session management to reduce the risk of unauthorized user interaction during login. 4) Conduct thorough auditing and logging of login attempts and privilege escalations to detect suspicious concurrent login activities. 5) Employ network segmentation to isolate storage management systems from general user networks, limiting exposure. 6) Educate users about the risks of concurrent logins and the importance of secure login practices. 7) Consider deploying runtime application self-protection (RASP) or endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect anomalous behaviors related to privilege escalation attempts. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local access, monitoring concurrency in login processes, and preparing for rapid patch deployment.