CVE-2025-26381 is a vulnerability categorized under CWE-425, commonly known as Direct Request or Forced Browsing, found in Johnson Controls OpenBlue Workplace (formerly FM Systems). This vulnerability allows attackers to bypass intended access controls by directly requesting URLs or resources that should be protected, thereby gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability affects version 0 of the product, which may correspond to an early or initial release. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates the attack can be performed remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), does not require privileges (PR:N), nor user interaction (UI:N). However, it requires partial authentication (AT:P), meaning some form of authentication or session context might be needed but not elevated privileges. The impact on confidentiality is high (VC:H), while integrity and availability impacts are low to none. The scope is high (SC:H), indicating that exploitation could affect components beyond the initially vulnerable one, and the impact is limited to low integrity and no availability impact. No known exploits are currently in the wild, and no patches have been released yet, which suggests organizations need to be vigilant and prepare for remediation. The vulnerability arises from insufficient authorization checks when accessing resources directly, allowing attackers to enumerate or access sensitive data that should be restricted. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in workplace management systems that handle sensitive employee, facility, or operational data.

For European organizations, the exploitation of CVE-2025-26381 could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive workplace and facility management information, potentially including employee data, building access details, and operational configurations. This could result in privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), and increased risk of targeted attacks leveraging the exposed information. Organizations relying on OpenBlue Workplace for critical facility management might face operational risks if attackers gain insights into security configurations or schedules. The confidentiality breach could also damage organizational reputation and trust. Given the medium severity and lack of known exploits, the immediate risk is moderate but could escalate if exploit code becomes publicly available. The vulnerability's ease of exploitation without elevated privileges and user interaction increases the likelihood of automated scanning and exploitation attempts, especially in environments exposed to the internet or insufficiently segmented networks.

1. Implement strict access control policies and ensure that all resource requests are properly authorized on the server side, not relying solely on client-side controls or obscurity. 2. Conduct thorough security testing and code reviews focusing on authorization logic, especially for direct URL or resource access. 3. Monitor web server logs and application access logs for unusual or repeated direct requests to sensitive resources that could indicate forced browsing attempts. 4. Segment and isolate the OpenBlue Workplace system from public-facing networks where possible, limiting exposure. 5. Apply any vendor patches or updates promptly once released. 6. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block forced browsing patterns. 7. Educate administrators and security teams about this vulnerability to recognize potential exploitation signs. 8. Consider implementing multi-factor authentication and session management improvements to reduce the risk of unauthorized access. 9. Perform regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing targeting authorization bypass scenarios.