CVE-2025-37093 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability identified in Hewlett Packard Enterprise's (HPE) StoreOnce Software, a data deduplication and backup storage solution widely used in enterprise environments for efficient data protection and disaster recovery. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-287, which pertains to improper authentication mechanisms. This flaw allows an unauthenticated attacker to bypass the authentication process entirely, gaining unauthorized access to the StoreOnce system without any credentials or user interaction. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 reflects the severity, indicating that the vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network (AV:N), requires no privileges (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability to a high degree (C:H/I:H/A:H). Exploitation could enable attackers to access sensitive backup data, modify or delete backups, or disrupt backup services, potentially leading to data breaches, loss of data integrity, and denial of backup availability. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild yet, the critical nature and ease of exploitation make it a significant threat. The absence of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for organizations to implement interim protective measures. Given the central role of HPE StoreOnce in enterprise backup infrastructures, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk to organizations relying on this software for data protection.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability could be severe. Many enterprises, including financial institutions, healthcare providers, and government agencies across Europe, depend on HPE StoreOnce for secure and reliable backup solutions. Unauthorized access could lead to exposure of sensitive personal data protected under GDPR, resulting in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. The ability to alter or delete backup data compromises data integrity and recovery capabilities, potentially prolonging downtime and increasing recovery costs after incidents such as ransomware attacks or system failures. Disruption of backup availability could hinder compliance with data retention policies and business continuity plans. Furthermore, given the critical infrastructure sectors in Europe that rely on HPE StoreOnce, exploitation could have cascading effects on service delivery and national security. The vulnerability's network accessibility and lack of authentication requirements heighten the risk of widespread exploitation if not promptly addressed.

In the absence of an official patch, European organizations should immediately implement network-level protections such as isolating HPE StoreOnce systems from untrusted networks and restricting access to management interfaces via firewalls and VPNs. Employ strict network segmentation to limit exposure and monitor traffic for unusual access patterns. Enable and review detailed logging on StoreOnce devices to detect unauthorized access attempts. Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing focused on backup infrastructure. Coordinate with HPE for timely updates and apply patches as soon as they become available. Additionally, implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) on any accessible management portals if supported, and enforce strong access control policies. Backup data should be regularly exported and stored securely offline or in immutable storage to mitigate risks of data tampering. Incident response plans should be updated to include scenarios involving backup system compromise. Finally, raise awareness among IT and security teams about this vulnerability to ensure rapid detection and response.