CVE-2025-22242 is a vulnerability identified in VMware SALT, specifically affecting versions 3006.x and 3007.x. The flaw resides in the Master's “pub_ret” method, which is accessible to all minions connected to the SALT infrastructure. The vulnerability arises from improper input sanitization of the “jid” parameter, which is used to construct a file path that the system subsequently attempts to open for reading. An attacker with access to the minion interface can exploit this by supplying a crafted “jid” value that targets special file system nodes, such as pipe nodes in the /proc filesystem, which do not return typical file data. This can cause the worker process to enter a denial-of-service (DoS) state due to the unexpected file read operation. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.6, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H) reveals that the attack requires local access (AV:L), high attack complexity (AC:H), high privileges (PR:H), and user interaction (UI:R). The impact is high on confidentiality (C:H) and availability (A:H), but no impact on integrity (I:N). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches are linked yet. This vulnerability primarily affects the availability of the SALT worker processes by causing denial of service through file read operations triggered by malicious input. Given the requirement for local access and high privileges, exploitation is limited to insiders or attackers who have already compromised a system with elevated rights. However, the high confidentiality impact indicates that sensitive data could potentially be exposed during the exploitation process, likely due to the file read operation on sensitive paths. The vulnerability does not require system-wide authentication but does require user interaction, which may limit automated exploitation but does not eliminate risk in environments with multiple users or automated scripts interacting with SALT minions.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-22242 can be significant in environments where VMware SALT is deployed for configuration management and automation. The denial-of-service condition on worker processes could disrupt critical automation workflows, leading to operational downtime and delayed response to infrastructure changes. The high confidentiality impact suggests that sensitive information managed or accessible through SALT could be exposed, posing compliance risks under GDPR and other data protection regulations prevalent in Europe. Organizations relying heavily on SALT for managing large-scale IT infrastructure, especially in sectors like finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, may face increased risk of service disruption and data leakage. The requirement for local access and high privileges means that the threat is more pronounced in environments with multiple administrators or where insider threats are a concern. Additionally, the need for user interaction implies that social engineering or phishing could be used to facilitate exploitation, increasing the attack surface. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the medium severity rating should not lead to complacency given the potential operational and confidentiality impacts.

Restrict access to SALT master and minion systems to trusted administrators only, enforcing strict access controls and monitoring for suspicious activity. Implement robust privilege management to ensure that only necessary users have high privilege levels required to exploit this vulnerability. Apply network segmentation to isolate SALT infrastructure from general user environments, reducing the risk of local access exploitation. Monitor logs and system behavior for unusual file read operations or worker process failures that could indicate attempted exploitation. Educate administrators and users interacting with SALT minions about the risks of social engineering and the importance of cautious interaction with prompts or inputs requiring user action. Until official patches are released, consider applying temporary workarounds such as input validation proxies or restricting access to the “pub_ret” method if configurable. Regularly update and audit SALT deployments to ensure that once patches become available, they are promptly applied. Conduct penetration testing and vulnerability assessments focusing on insider threat scenarios and local privilege escalation paths related to SALT.