CVE-2025-29827 is a critical vulnerability classified under CWE-285 (Improper Authorization) affecting Microsoft Azure Automation. This flaw allows an attacker who already has some level of authorized access to Azure Automation services to escalate their privileges over the network without requiring user interaction. The vulnerability arises from insufficient enforcement of authorization controls within Azure Automation, enabling an attacker with limited privileges to perform actions or access resources beyond their intended scope. The CVSS v3.1 score of 9.9 reflects the severity, with an attack vector over the network (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N), and a scope change (S:C) indicating that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially compromised component. The impact includes complete confidentiality and integrity compromise (C:H/I:H) and a slight impact on availability (A:L). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the potential for exploitation is high given the low complexity and network accessibility. The vulnerability affects Azure Automation, a widely used cloud service for process automation, configuration management, and orchestration within Microsoft Azure environments. No specific affected versions are listed, suggesting the issue may impact all or multiple versions of Azure Automation at the time of disclosure. The vulnerability was reserved in March 2025 and published in May 2025, with enrichment from CISA indicating recognition by US cybersecurity authorities. No patches or mitigations were provided in the initial disclosure, emphasizing the need for immediate attention from organizations using Azure Automation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread adoption of Microsoft Azure services across the continent. Azure Automation is commonly used to manage cloud resources, automate operational tasks, and enforce compliance policies. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could escalate privileges within the Azure environment, potentially gaining control over critical infrastructure, sensitive data, and operational workflows. This could lead to data breaches, unauthorized changes to cloud configurations, disruption of services, and lateral movement within the network. Given the critical nature of the vulnerability and the potential for scope escalation, the impact extends beyond a single compromised resource to potentially affect entire cloud deployments. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure, which heavily rely on Azure for cloud operations, are particularly at risk. The vulnerability could also undermine compliance with European data protection regulations like GDPR if unauthorized access leads to personal data exposure.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should immediately review and tighten access controls and role assignments within Azure Automation. Implement the principle of least privilege rigorously, ensuring users and service principals have only the minimum necessary permissions. Monitor Azure Automation activity logs for unusual or unauthorized actions indicative of privilege escalation attempts. Employ Azure Security Center and Azure Sentinel to detect anomalous behavior and potential exploitation. Until an official patch or update is released by Microsoft, consider restricting network access to Azure Automation endpoints using network security groups or firewall rules to limit exposure. Additionally, implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all accounts with access to Azure Automation to reduce the risk of credential compromise. Regularly audit and rotate credentials and secrets used by automation runbooks and service principals. Stay informed on Microsoft advisories for patches or workarounds and plan for rapid deployment once available. Finally, conduct incident response preparedness exercises focusing on cloud privilege escalation scenarios.