CVE-2025-27378 identifies a SQL injection vulnerability in Altium AES version 7.0.3, a product widely used for electronic design automation. The root cause is an inactive configuration setting that prevents the application of the latest SQL parsing logic designed to sanitize and validate SQL inputs properly. Without this configuration enabled, the system improperly handles crafted input, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL commands. This can lead to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion, impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without authentication or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.6 reflects its high impact, with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. Although no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability's nature suggests it could be leveraged for data exfiltration or disruption of services. The CWE identifiers CWE-89 (SQL Injection) and CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) highlight the underlying coding and configuration issues. The lack of a patch at the time of publication emphasizes the need for immediate configuration changes or vendor updates once released.

For European organizations, especially those in sectors relying on Altium AES for electronic design and manufacturing, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive design data, intellectual property theft, or manipulation of critical configuration databases. This could disrupt production lines, cause financial losses, and damage reputations. The ability to execute arbitrary SQL queries may also allow attackers to pivot within networks, escalating attacks to other systems. Given the network-based exploitation and no authentication requirement, attackers can target exposed AES instances directly, increasing the threat surface. Industries such as automotive, aerospace, and electronics manufacturing, which are prominent in countries like Germany, France, and the UK, could face operational disruptions and compliance violations under GDPR if personal or sensitive data is compromised.

Immediate mitigation should focus on enabling the correct configuration that activates the latest SQL parsing logic within Altium AES 7.0.3 to prevent improper input handling. Organizations should audit their AES deployments to verify configuration settings and restrict network access to AES management interfaces using firewalls or VPNs. Monitoring and logging SQL queries and application behavior can help detect suspicious activity indicative of exploitation attempts. Since no official patch is currently available, maintain close communication with Altium for updates and apply patches promptly once released. Additionally, implementing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with SQL injection detection rules can provide an additional layer of defense. Conducting regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on injection flaws will help identify residual risks. Finally, ensure backups of critical data are maintained and tested for recovery to mitigate potential data loss or corruption.