CVE-2025-31954 is a vulnerability identified in HCL Software's iAutomate versions 6.5.1 and 6.5.2, categorized under CWE-598, which concerns the use of the HTTP GET method with sensitive query strings. The core issue is that iAutomate processes requests using the GET method that include sensitive information within the URL query parameters. Since URLs can be logged in browser histories, server logs, proxy logs, and network monitoring tools, this practice risks exposing sensitive data to unauthorized parties. An attacker with at least limited privileges (PR:L) can potentially access or intercept these GET requests and retrieve sensitive information that should otherwise be protected. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.4, indicating a medium severity level, with the vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N. This means the attack can be performed remotely over the network with low complexity, requires some privileges but no user interaction, and impacts confidentiality and integrity but not availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no patches have been released at the time of publication. The vulnerability primarily affects confidentiality due to potential leakage of sensitive data and integrity due to possible unauthorized access to resources. The use of GET requests for sensitive data is a recognized security anti-pattern, as GET parameters are often exposed in logs and caches, increasing the attack surface. Organizations using affected versions of iAutomate should be aware of this risk and implement mitigations to reduce exposure.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk of sensitive information leakage, which can lead to unauthorized access to confidential business data, intellectual property, or personally identifiable information (PII). This could result in regulatory non-compliance, especially under GDPR, leading to legal penalties and reputational damage. The integrity impact means attackers might manipulate or access resources they should not, potentially disrupting automated workflows or business processes managed by iAutomate. Since the vulnerability requires some privilege level, insider threats or compromised accounts could exploit it more easily. The lack of availability impact means service disruption is unlikely, but the confidentiality breach alone can have serious consequences. Industries with high automation reliance, such as manufacturing, finance, and IT services, are particularly vulnerable. The exposure of sensitive data in URLs could also facilitate further attacks, such as phishing or lateral movement within networks. European organizations must consider the compliance and operational risks associated with this vulnerability.

1. Immediately review and audit all uses of HCL iAutomate 6.5.1 and 6.5.2 to identify where sensitive data is transmitted via GET requests. 2. Modify application configurations or workflows to avoid placing sensitive information in URL query strings; instead, use POST requests or other secure methods to transmit sensitive data. 3. Implement strict access controls and role-based permissions to limit who can generate or view sensitive GET requests. 4. Enable comprehensive logging and monitoring of HTTP traffic to detect unusual access patterns or attempts to access sensitive query strings. 5. Use network-level protections such as web application firewalls (WAFs) to filter and block suspicious GET requests containing sensitive data. 6. Educate developers and administrators on secure coding and configuration practices to prevent similar issues. 7. Regularly update and patch iAutomate when official fixes become available from HCL. 8. Consider encrypting sensitive data at rest and in transit, and ensure HTTPS is enforced to protect data from interception. 9. Conduct penetration testing focused on information disclosure via URLs to validate mitigations. 10. If possible, isolate iAutomate environments to reduce exposure to untrusted networks or users.