CVE-2025-22829 is a security vulnerability identified in the Apache CloudStack platform, specifically affecting version 4.20.0.0. The vulnerability arises from improper privilege management within the CloudStack Quota plugin. This plugin is responsible for managing quota-related notifications and configurations for user accounts in CloudStack environments. The flaw allows any authenticated user with an account in the affected CloudStack environment, where the Quota plugin is enabled, and who has access to certain APIs, to manipulate quota-related email settings for any account. Specifically, such users can enable or disable the reception of quota-related emails for other accounts and can also list the quota configurations of those accounts. This represents a violation of the principle of least privilege, as users can affect other accounts' notification settings without proper authorization. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and can be exploited remotely over the network. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 2.3, indicating a low severity level, primarily because the impact is limited to the confidentiality and integrity of quota notification settings and configurations, without direct impact on system availability or critical data. The issue has been addressed in Apache CloudStack version 4.20.1.0, which includes a fix for the privilege management logic in the Quota plugin. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management), highlighting the failure to enforce correct access controls on sensitive operations within the software.

For European organizations using Apache CloudStack 4.20.0.0 with the Quota plugin enabled, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized manipulation of quota notification settings across accounts. While this does not directly compromise critical data or system availability, it can undermine operational transparency and user awareness regarding resource usage limits. Attackers could suppress quota alerts to hide over-usage or enable notifications to cause confusion or alert fatigue. This could indirectly affect resource management and billing processes, potentially leading to financial discrepancies or operational inefficiencies. Additionally, the ability to list quota configurations of other accounts may expose sensitive operational parameters, which could be leveraged in further targeted attacks or social engineering campaigns. Although the severity is low, the vulnerability could be exploited by malicious insiders or compromised accounts to disrupt normal quota monitoring and reporting workflows. Given the role of CloudStack in managing cloud infrastructure, any disruption or misconfiguration can have cascading effects on service delivery and compliance with organizational policies.

European organizations should prioritize upgrading Apache CloudStack installations from version 4.20.0.0 to version 4.20.1.0 or later, where the privilege management flaw in the Quota plugin is fixed. Until the upgrade is applied, organizations should restrict access to the Quota plugin APIs to only highly trusted users and implement strict monitoring of quota-related API calls to detect any unauthorized changes. Additionally, organizations should audit user permissions regularly to ensure that only necessary accounts have access to quota management functions. Implementing network segmentation and access controls around CloudStack management interfaces can reduce the risk of unauthorized API access. Logging and alerting mechanisms should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in quota email configuration changes. Finally, organizations should review their incident response plans to include scenarios involving quota notification manipulation to quickly identify and remediate potential exploitation attempts.