CVE-2025-24049 is a high-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-77, which pertains to improper neutralization of special elements used in a command, commonly known as command injection. This vulnerability affects Microsoft Azure Command Line Interface (CLI) version 2.0.0. The flaw allows an unauthorized attacker to execute arbitrary commands on the local system by injecting malicious input into the CLI commands. Because the Azure CLI is a widely used tool for managing Azure cloud resources, exploitation of this vulnerability could enable an attacker to elevate privileges locally without requiring prior authentication or user interaction. The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.4 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no privileges or user interaction needed. The vulnerability arises from insufficient sanitization or neutralization of special characters or command elements within the CLI input processing, enabling attackers to manipulate command execution flow. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the potential for privilege escalation and full system compromise makes this a critical concern for organizations relying on Azure CLI for cloud management and automation tasks.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-24049 could be significant, especially for enterprises and public sector entities heavily invested in Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized local privilege escalation, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands with elevated rights. This could compromise sensitive data confidentiality, integrity of cloud resource configurations, and availability of critical cloud services. Given that Azure CLI is often used in automated deployment pipelines and administrative operations, attackers could manipulate cloud environments, disrupt services, or pivot to further attacks within the network. The risk is amplified in environments where Azure CLI is run on shared or multi-user systems, or where endpoint security controls are insufficient. Additionally, the lack of required authentication or user interaction lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing the likelihood of successful attacks if systems remain unpatched. This vulnerability could also undermine compliance with European data protection regulations such as GDPR if it leads to data breaches or unauthorized data access.

To mitigate CVE-2025-24049, European organizations should: 1) Immediately update the Azure CLI to a patched version once Microsoft releases it, as no patch links are currently available. 2) Until a patch is available, restrict usage of Azure CLI version 2.0.0 to trusted, isolated environments and limit access to authorized personnel only. 3) Implement strict input validation and sanitization controls in any scripts or automation workflows that invoke Azure CLI commands to prevent injection of malicious inputs. 4) Employ endpoint protection solutions with behavioral detection capabilities to monitor for suspicious command execution patterns. 5) Use least privilege principles for accounts running Azure CLI, avoiding execution with administrative or root privileges where possible. 6) Monitor logs and audit trails for unusual command execution or privilege escalation attempts related to Azure CLI usage. 7) Educate administrators and DevOps teams about the risks of command injection and safe scripting practices. 8) Consider network segmentation and application whitelisting to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs.