CVE-2025-2241 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Hive, a component used within Multicluster Engine (MCE) and Advanced Cluster Management (ACM) platforms. The flaw involves insecure storage of sensitive VCenter credentials within the ClusterProvision object after provisioning a vSphere cluster. Specifically, these credentials are exposed in a manner accessible to any user with read permissions on ClusterProvision objects, even if they lack direct access to Kubernetes Secrets where such credentials would normally be protected. This vulnerability arises from improper handling and storage of sensitive information, leading to an unintended information disclosure. Exploiting this vulnerability allows an attacker with limited privileges (read access to ClusterProvision objects) to extract VCenter credentials, which can then be used to gain unauthorized access to the VCenter management interface. This access can facilitate further cluster management activities and privilege escalation, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the entire cluster environment. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.2, indicating a high severity level. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requiring low privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially compromised component. The impact on confidentiality and integrity is high (C:H/I:H), while availability is not affected (A:N). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the potential for serious impact exists given the nature of the credentials exposed and the critical role of VCenter in managing virtualized infrastructure.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for enterprises and service providers relying on VMware vSphere environments managed through MCE and ACM. Unauthorized access to VCenter credentials can lead to full control over virtualized infrastructure, enabling attackers to manipulate virtual machines, access sensitive data, disrupt operations, or move laterally within the network. This can result in data breaches, operational downtime, and compliance violations under regulations such as GDPR. The exposure of credentials without requiring direct Kubernetes Secrets access lowers the barrier for attackers who may already have limited cluster access, increasing the likelihood of exploitation in environments with insufficient access controls. Given the widespread adoption of VMware technologies in European data centers and cloud environments, the impact could be broad, affecting sectors including finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and government institutions that rely heavily on virtualized infrastructure for critical operations.

Organizations should immediately audit access controls for ClusterProvision objects to ensure that only trusted users have read permissions. Implement the principle of least privilege rigorously within Kubernetes RBAC policies to restrict access to sensitive cluster provisioning data. Apply any available patches or updates from the vendor as soon as they are released to remediate the insecure storage issue. In the absence of patches, consider implementing compensating controls such as encrypting sensitive fields within ClusterProvision objects or using external secrets management solutions that do not expose credentials in cluster objects. Regularly monitor and audit access logs for unusual read activity on ClusterProvision objects. Additionally, rotate VCenter credentials that may have been exposed to limit the window of opportunity for attackers. Employ network segmentation and multi-factor authentication on VCenter to reduce the risk of unauthorized access even if credentials are compromised.