CVE-2025-25023 is a vulnerability identified in IBM Security Guardium versions 11.4 and 12.1, categorized under CWE-266 (Incorrect Privilege Assignment). This flaw allows a privileged user within the system to read any file on the host machine due to improper privilege management. Specifically, the vulnerability arises because the software incorrectly assigns privileges, enabling users who already have elevated access to bypass intended access controls and access arbitrary files beyond their normal scope. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.9 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), but demands high privileges (PR:H) and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact is primarily on confidentiality (C:H), with no direct effect on integrity or availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. IBM Security Guardium is a data security and protection platform widely used for database activity monitoring and compliance enforcement, making this vulnerability significant in environments where sensitive data is managed. The flaw could be exploited by insiders or attackers who have already gained privileged access, allowing them to escalate their data access capabilities and potentially exfiltrate sensitive information stored on the system hosting Guardium.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk to data confidentiality, especially in sectors handling sensitive or regulated data such as finance, healthcare, and government. Since IBM Security Guardium is deployed to monitor and protect databases, a privileged user exploiting this flaw could access sensitive files on the system, potentially including configuration files, credentials, or other protected data. This could lead to data breaches, non-compliance with GDPR and other data protection regulations, and reputational damage. The risk is heightened in environments where privileged user access controls are not strictly enforced or where insider threats are a concern. However, the requirement for high privileges limits the attack surface to users who already have significant access, reducing the likelihood of external attackers exploiting this vulnerability remotely without prior access.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Restrict and strictly monitor privileged user accounts on IBM Security Guardium systems, ensuring that only authorized personnel have elevated access. 2) Employ robust access control policies and regularly audit privilege assignments to detect and correct any improper privilege configurations. 3) Use host-based file integrity monitoring and logging to detect unauthorized file access attempts. 4) Isolate Guardium servers within secure network segments with limited access to reduce exposure. 5) Apply the latest IBM Security Guardium updates and patches as soon as they become available, even though no patch links are currently provided. 6) Conduct regular security training for administrators to raise awareness about the risks of privilege misuse. 7) Consider implementing additional encryption or data masking on sensitive files to reduce the impact if unauthorized access occurs. 8) Monitor for unusual privileged user activity that could indicate exploitation attempts.