CVE-2025-24049 is a command injection vulnerability classified under CWE-77 affecting Microsoft Azure CLI version 2.0.0. The flaw arises from improper neutralization of special elements in command inputs, allowing an attacker with local access to inject and execute arbitrary commands on the host system. This vulnerability does not require any prior authentication or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have local access or where automated scripts invoke Azure CLI commands. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability by enabling privilege escalation and potential full system compromise. The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.4 reflects the high impact and relatively low complexity of exploitation. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability's presence in a widely used cloud management tool increases the risk of future exploitation. The Azure CLI is commonly used by cloud administrators and developers to manage Azure resources, and a successful attack could lead to unauthorized control over cloud infrastructure and sensitive data. The vulnerability was published on March 11, 2025, with no patches currently available, emphasizing the need for immediate mitigation measures.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread adoption of Microsoft Azure services and Azure CLI for cloud management. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized privilege escalation on local machines, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate cloud resources, access sensitive data, or disrupt services. This is particularly critical for sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, where data confidentiality and service availability are paramount. The vulnerability could also facilitate lateral movement within networks if attackers gain footholds on local systems used for cloud administration. The lack of required authentication and user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing the threat to organizations with multiple users having local access to Azure CLI. Additionally, automated deployment pipelines and DevOps environments using Azure CLI are at risk of compromise, potentially affecting cloud infrastructure integrity and availability.

1. Immediately restrict local access to systems running Azure CLI version 2.0.0 to trusted personnel only. 2. Monitor and audit all Azure CLI command executions for unusual or unauthorized activity. 3. Implement strict access controls and least privilege principles on local machines to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 4. Disable or isolate automated scripts and CI/CD pipelines that invoke Azure CLI commands until a patch is available. 5. Follow Microsoft’s official channels closely for patch releases and apply updates promptly once available. 6. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect and block suspicious command executions. 7. Educate users about the risks of executing untrusted commands or scripts locally. 8. Consider using containerized or sandboxed environments for running Azure CLI to limit the scope of potential compromise.