CVE-2025-27581 is a security vulnerability identified in the NIH Biomedical Research Informatics Computing System (BRICS) versions up to 14.0.0-67. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-425, which pertains to Direct Request or Forced Browsing attacks. Specifically, this flaw allows users who do not possess the required 'InET' role to directly access the InET module by sending crafted HTTP requests to known endpoints within the BRICS application. This bypasses the intended access control mechanisms that should restrict module access based on user roles. The vulnerability arises from insufficient authorization checks on server-side endpoints, enabling unauthorized users to reach sensitive modules without proper authentication or role validation. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the flaw represents a significant risk because it exposes potentially sensitive biomedical research data or functionality to unauthorized users. The NIH BRICS platform is widely used for managing and sharing biomedical research data, making the integrity and confidentiality of its modules critical. The lack of a patch link suggests that a fix may not yet be publicly available or is pending release. The vulnerability was reserved in early March 2025 and published in late April 2025, indicating recent discovery and disclosure. Overall, this vulnerability is a classic example of an access control bypass via forced browsing, which can lead to unauthorized data access or manipulation if exploited.

For European organizations involved in biomedical research, healthcare, or academic institutions utilizing NIH BRICS or interoperable systems, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive research data, patient information, or proprietary biomedical datasets. The InET module likely contains critical data or functionalities related to informatics and data exchange, so unauthorized access could compromise confidentiality and data integrity. This may result in intellectual property theft, exposure of personally identifiable information (PII), or disruption of research workflows. Additionally, unauthorized access could facilitate further attacks such as data tampering or privilege escalation within the system. Given the sensitive nature of biomedical data and strict regulatory environments in Europe (e.g., GDPR), exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to regulatory penalties, loss of trust, and reputational damage. Although no active exploits are known, the ease of direct URL manipulation means that attackers with minimal technical skills could attempt to access restricted modules, increasing the threat surface. The impact is thus significant for organizations relying on NIH BRICS for secure data management and collaboration.

1. Implement strict server-side authorization checks on all endpoints, ensuring that role-based access control (RBAC) is enforced regardless of the request origin. 2. Conduct a comprehensive code review and penetration testing focused on access control mechanisms, especially for sensitive modules like InET. 3. Employ web application firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block forced browsing attempts targeting known sensitive endpoints. 4. Monitor access logs for unusual direct requests to restricted modules and set up alerts for unauthorized access attempts. 5. Educate users and administrators about the risks of forced browsing and encourage prompt reporting of suspicious activity. 6. Coordinate with NIH or the BRICS vendor to obtain and apply patches or updates as soon as they become available. 7. If immediate patching is not possible, consider temporarily restricting access to the InET module via network segmentation or IP whitelisting to trusted users only. 8. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and session management improvements to reduce the risk of unauthorized access even if forced browsing is attempted. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on proactive detection, monitoring, and compensating controls until a patch is deployed.