CVE-2025-14840 is a security vulnerability identified in the Drupal HTTP Client Manager, a module responsible for managing HTTP requests within Drupal applications. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-754, which pertains to improper checks for unusual or exceptional conditions. Specifically, the flaw allows forceful browsing, a technique where an attacker can access resources or endpoints that should be restricted by bypassing normal access controls. The affected versions include all releases before 9.3.13, 10.0.2, and 11.0.1, indicating that multiple major branches of the module are impacted. The root cause lies in insufficient validation or handling of exceptional states within the HTTP Client Manager, which can be exploited to access unauthorized content or functionality. Although no public exploits have been observed in the wild yet, the vulnerability's nature suggests that exploitation could be straightforward, especially if the attacker can interact with the web application. The absence of a CVSS score means that severity must be inferred from the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as well as exploitation complexity. Since forceful browsing can lead to unauthorized data exposure or manipulation, the impact on confidentiality and integrity is significant. The vulnerability does not require authentication, increasing the risk profile. The HTTP Client Manager is widely used in Drupal deployments, which are prevalent across many European organizations, especially in government, education, and enterprise sectors. The vulnerability's publication date is January 28, 2026, and no official patches or exploit mitigations are linked yet, emphasizing the need for immediate attention once patches become available.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-14840 can be substantial. Drupal is a popular content management system across Europe, powering numerous government portals, educational institutions, and private sector websites. Exploitation of this vulnerability could allow attackers to bypass access controls and perform forceful browsing, potentially exposing sensitive information such as personal data, internal documents, or administrative interfaces. This could lead to data breaches, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties under GDPR. Additionally, unauthorized access might enable attackers to manipulate content or configurations, undermining data integrity and availability. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation without authentication increases the risk of automated or opportunistic attacks. Organizations relying on Drupal HTTP Client Manager without timely patching are particularly vulnerable. The threat is heightened in sectors with high-value data or critical services, including finance, healthcare, and public administration. Furthermore, the lack of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but also means attackers may develop exploits rapidly once the vulnerability is public knowledge.

1. Immediate upgrade to the fixed versions of the Drupal HTTP Client Manager module: 9.3.13 or later, 10.0.2 or later, and 11.0.1 or later as soon as they are released. 2. Until patches are available, implement strict access control rules at the web server or application firewall level to restrict access to sensitive endpoints and limit forceful browsing attempts. 3. Conduct thorough audits of HTTP client configurations and access control policies within Drupal to identify and remediate any misconfigurations that could be exploited. 4. Enable detailed logging and monitoring of HTTP requests to detect unusual browsing patterns or repeated access attempts to restricted resources. 5. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to block suspicious URL patterns or forceful browsing techniques. 6. Educate development and security teams about the vulnerability to ensure rapid response and patch management. 7. Review and tighten user permissions and roles within Drupal to minimize the impact of potential unauthorized access. 8. Perform penetration testing focused on forceful browsing scenarios to validate the effectiveness of mitigations.