CVE-2025-26515 is a high-severity Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability affecting NetApp StorageGRID versions prior to 11.8.0.15 and 11.9.0.8 when Single Sign-on (SSO) is not enabled. StorageGRID is a distributed object storage solution used for managing large-scale unstructured data. The vulnerability arises because an unauthenticated attacker can exploit SSRF to send crafted requests from the vulnerable server to internal services or endpoints that are not directly accessible externally. In this case, the SSRF flaw allows the attacker to manipulate internal API calls or management interfaces to change the password of any Grid Manager or Tenant Manager non-federated user account. This means the attacker can effectively take over administrative or tenant-level accounts without authentication or user interaction. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.5 reflects the network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges or user interaction required, and a high impact on integrity (ability to change passwords), but no impact on confidentiality or availability. The vulnerability does not appear to have known exploits in the wild yet, but the potential for account takeover makes it a critical risk for organizations relying on StorageGRID for their object storage infrastructure. The lack of SSO as a mitigating factor indicates that enabling federated authentication can reduce exposure. Since StorageGRID is often deployed in enterprise and service provider environments, exploitation could lead to unauthorized administrative access, data manipulation, and potential lateral movement within the storage infrastructure.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses significant risks especially for those using NetApp StorageGRID in their data centers or cloud environments. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized password changes on critical management accounts, allowing attackers to gain persistent administrative access. This could result in unauthorized data modification, disruption of storage services, and potential exposure of sensitive data managed by StorageGRID. Given the role of StorageGRID in managing large volumes of unstructured data, including backups, archives, and compliance data, the integrity compromise could undermine data trustworthiness and regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR). Additionally, attackers gaining control over management accounts could pivot to other internal systems, amplifying the impact. The vulnerability’s exploitation does not require authentication or user interaction, increasing the risk of automated or widespread attacks. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and government, which heavily rely on secure and compliant storage solutions, could face severe operational and reputational damage if targeted.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize upgrading NetApp StorageGRID to versions 11.8.0.15 or 11.9.0.8 or later where the vulnerability is patched. If immediate patching is not feasible, enabling Single Sign-on (SSO) or federated authentication mechanisms can reduce exposure by preventing unauthenticated access to management interfaces. Network-level controls should be implemented to restrict access to StorageGRID management endpoints, allowing only trusted internal IP addresses or VPN connections. Deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) or Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) with SSRF detection capabilities can help detect and block malicious SSRF attempts. Regularly auditing user accounts, especially non-federated ones, and enforcing strong password policies and multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible will limit the impact of any unauthorized password changes. Monitoring logs for unusual password change activities or access patterns on Grid Manager and Tenant Manager accounts is critical for early detection. Finally, organizations should review their incident response plans to include scenarios involving StorageGRID compromise and conduct tabletop exercises to prepare for potential exploitation.