CVE-2025-14946 is a vulnerability identified in libnbd, a library used in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 for network block device operations. The flaw arises from improper handling of argument delimiters in Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs) processed by libnbd. Specifically, when a URI contains a non-standard hostname beginning with the string '-o', libnbd incorrectly interprets this as an argument to the Secure Shell (SSH) command rather than as a hostname. This misinterpretation can be exploited by a malicious actor who convinces libnbd to open a specially crafted URI. By doing so, the attacker can inject arbitrary SSH command arguments, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution under the privileges of the user running libnbd. The vulnerability requires that the attacker have at least local privileges and that the user triggers the URI processing, indicating that user interaction is necessary. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.8, reflecting a medium severity level due to the limited attack vector (local), the requirement for low privileges, and user interaction. The impact includes potential compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. No public exploits or patches are currently reported, but the vulnerability is published and should be addressed promptly to prevent exploitation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 with libnbd enabled. If exploited, attackers could execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running libnbd, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data manipulation, or service disruption. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments where multiple users have access or where automated processes might trigger URI handling. Critical infrastructure, cloud service providers, and enterprises relying on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 for virtualization or storage services could face operational disruptions or data breaches. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as a foothold for lateral movement within networks. Given the widespread use of Red Hat Enterprise Linux in European government, financial, and industrial sectors, the impact could be significant if unmitigated.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Monitor for updates from Red Hat and apply patches for libnbd as soon as they become available. 2) Restrict access to libnbd interfaces and services to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of local exploitation. 3) Implement strict input validation and sanitization for any URIs processed by libnbd or related components to prevent injection of malicious arguments. 4) Employ application whitelisting and privilege separation to limit the privileges of users and processes running libnbd. 5) Conduct user awareness training to reduce the risk of inadvertent triggering of malicious URIs. 6) Use host-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for unusual SSH argument usage or unexpected libnbd activity. 7) Review and harden SSH configurations to prevent unauthorized command injection. These targeted actions go beyond generic patching and help reduce the attack surface and exploitation likelihood.