CVE-2025-31963 is a security vulnerability identified in HCL BigFix IVR version 4.2, classified under CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Function) and CWE-352 (Cross-Site Request Forgery - CSRF). The vulnerability arises from improper authentication and the absence of CSRF protection in the local setup interface component of the product. Specifically, this flaw allows a local attacker who already has high privileges on the system to bypass authentication mechanisms and submit unauthorized administrative configuration requests. Because the interface lacks proper authentication checks and CSRF defenses, an attacker can manipulate critical configuration settings without valid credentials. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring the attacker to have high privileges (PR:H) and some user interaction (UI:R). The impact on confidentiality and integrity is limited (C:L, I:L), with no effect on availability (A:N). Although the vulnerability is rated low severity with a CVSS score of 2.9, it poses a risk of unauthorized configuration changes that could weaken system security or disrupt operational policies. No public exploits are currently known, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was reserved in April 2025 and published in January 2026. Organizations using BigFix IVR 4.2 should be aware of this issue and prepare to apply fixes or mitigations once available.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized configuration changes in HCL BigFix IVR deployments, potentially undermining security policies or operational controls managed through the platform. Although exploitation requires local high-privilege access, insider threats or attackers who have compromised privileged accounts could leverage this flaw to escalate control or alter system behavior. This could result in weakened security postures, unauthorized access to managed endpoints, or misconfiguration that impacts compliance with regulatory requirements such as GDPR. The limited confidentiality and integrity impact means sensitive data exposure or corruption is unlikely but not impossible if configuration changes enable further exploitation. Availability is not impacted directly. Organizations relying heavily on BigFix IVR for endpoint management, especially in critical infrastructure sectors or regulated industries, may face increased risk if this vulnerability is exploited. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the need for proactive mitigation.

1. Restrict local access to systems running HCL BigFix IVR 4.2 to trusted administrators only, minimizing the risk of local attackers exploiting this vulnerability. 2. Implement strict access control policies and monitor privileged user activities to detect unauthorized configuration changes promptly. 3. Employ network segmentation and host-based firewalls to limit exposure of management interfaces to only necessary personnel and systems. 4. Regularly audit configuration changes and maintain logs to identify suspicious or unauthorized modifications. 5. Apply principle of least privilege to reduce the number of users with high-level access on affected systems. 6. Stay informed about vendor patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and plan timely deployment once available. 7. Consider deploying additional endpoint security controls that can detect or prevent unauthorized administrative actions. 8. Educate administrators about the risks of local privilege misuse and enforce strong authentication mechanisms for local access where possible. 9. If feasible, disable or restrict the vulnerable local setup interface until a patch is applied. 10. Use multi-factor authentication and session management controls to reduce the risk of session hijacking or misuse.