CVE-2025-14848 is a directory traversal vulnerability classified under CWE-36 affecting Advantech WebAccess/SCADA version 9.2.1. The vulnerability allows an attacker to craft specially formed requests that traverse directories outside the intended web root, enabling them to probe for the existence of arbitrary files on the server. This can lead to information disclosure by revealing sensitive file presence, which may aid further attacks or reconnaissance. The vulnerability requires the attacker to have low privileges (authenticated user) but does not require user interaction. The attack vector is network-based, with low attack complexity, and the scope remains unchanged as it does not escalate privileges or impact other components. The CVSS v3.1 score of 4.3 reflects a medium severity primarily due to confidentiality impact without affecting integrity or availability. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability poses a risk to industrial control systems relying on Advantech WebAccess/SCADA for monitoring and control. Given the critical nature of SCADA systems in industrial environments, even information disclosure can facilitate more severe attacks.

For European organizations, especially those operating critical infrastructure such as energy, manufacturing, and utilities, this vulnerability could allow attackers to gather sensitive information about system files and configurations. This reconnaissance capability can be leveraged to plan more targeted attacks, including ransomware or sabotage. Although the vulnerability does not directly compromise system integrity or availability, the exposure of file existence information undermines confidentiality and could lead to further exploitation. Organizations relying on Advantech WebAccess/SCADA version 9.2.1 are at risk, particularly in sectors where industrial automation is prevalent. The impact is heightened in environments where network segmentation or access controls are weak, allowing easier exploitation by internal or external threat actors.

1. Restrict network access to the Advantech WebAccess/SCADA interface using firewalls and network segmentation to limit exposure to trusted users only. 2. Implement strict authentication and authorization controls to ensure only legitimate users with necessary privileges can access the system. 3. Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual file access patterns or directory traversal attempts. 4. Apply any vendor-provided patches or updates as soon as they become available to remediate the vulnerability. 5. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block directory traversal payloads. 6. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration tests focusing on SCADA systems to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities proactively. 7. Educate operational technology (OT) security teams about this vulnerability and ensure incident response plans include scenarios involving information disclosure in SCADA environments.