CVE-2025-34304 is a SQL injection vulnerability identified in IPFire, an open-source firewall distribution widely used for network security and VPN services. The flaw exists in versions prior to 2.29 (Core Update 198) within the OpenVPN connection log viewing functionality. Specifically, the vulnerability arises because the CONNECTION_NAME parameter, submitted via an HTTP POST request to /cgi-bin/logs.cgi/ovpnclients.dat, is directly embedded into the SQL WHERE clause without proper sanitization or use of parameterized queries. This improper neutralization of special SQL elements (CWE-89) allows an authenticated attacker to manipulate the SQL query logic, potentially extracting sensitive information from the backend database. The attack vector requires the attacker to have valid credentials (authenticated access) but does not require user interaction beyond that. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality by enabling unauthorized data disclosure but does not affect integrity or availability. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:L - limited privileges), no user interaction (UI:N), and high impact on confidentiality (VC:H) with no impact on integrity or availability. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability is considered high risk due to ease of exploitation and potential data exposure.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant threat to the confidentiality of sensitive network and VPN connection data. IPFire is commonly deployed in small to medium enterprises and critical infrastructure sectors as a firewall and VPN gateway solution. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of internal network details, user connection logs, and potentially other sensitive database contents, which could facilitate further attacks or data breaches. Organizations relying on IPFire for secure VPN access may face increased risk of espionage, data leakage, or compliance violations under GDPR if personal data is exposed. The requirement for authentication limits the attack surface but insider threats or compromised credentials could enable exploitation. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation. However, the widespread use of IPFire in Europe, especially in countries with strong open-source adoption and critical infrastructure protection mandates, elevates the risk profile. The vulnerability could also undermine trust in VPN security, impacting remote work and secure communications.

1. Immediately upgrade IPFire installations to version 2.29 (Core Update 198) or later, where this vulnerability is addressed. 2. Restrict access to the OpenVPN connection logs interface (/cgi-bin/logs.cgi/ovpnclients.dat) to trusted administrators only, using network segmentation and firewall rules. 3. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all accounts with access to IPFire management interfaces to reduce risk from compromised credentials. 4. Monitor logs for unusual access patterns or repeated failed attempts to access the logs interface. 5. If upgrading is not immediately possible, apply web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the CONNECTION_NAME parameter. 6. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on IPFire deployments to identify and remediate similar injection flaws. 7. Educate administrators on secure configuration and the importance of input validation in custom scripts or plugins interacting with IPFire. 8. Backup configuration and logs securely to enable forensic analysis in case of suspected exploitation.