CVE-2025-37111 is a vulnerability identified in Hewlett Packard Enterprise's (HPE) Telco Network Function Virtual Orchestrator version 7.0.0. The root cause of this vulnerability is the use of hard-coded credentials within the storage policy for certain authentication keys. Specifically, the product embeds fixed authentication keys or credentials in its code or configuration, which are not dynamically generated or user-configurable. This practice is classified under CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials), a well-known security weakness that can lead to unauthorized access if the credentials become known or are discovered by attackers. Exploiting this vulnerability requires local access with high privileges (as indicated by the CVSS vector AV:L/PR:H), but no user interaction is needed. The vulnerability allows an attacker with such access to retrieve sensitive system information by leveraging these hard-coded credentials, potentially compromising confidentiality. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.0 (medium severity), reflecting that while the impact on confidentiality is high, the attack vector is local and requires high privileges, limiting the ease of exploitation. The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability affects a critical orchestration product used in telecommunications network function virtualization (NFV), which is integral to managing virtualized network functions in telco environments.

For European organizations, particularly telecommunications providers and network operators using HPE Telco Network Function Virtual Orchestrator, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of sensitive system information. Unauthorized access to authentication keys could allow attackers to gain insights into network configurations, orchestrator operations, or potentially pivot to other network components. Given the critical role of NFV orchestrators in managing virtualized network functions, any compromise could disrupt service management and degrade trust in network integrity. Although the vulnerability requires local high-privilege access, insider threats or attackers who have already breached perimeter defenses could exploit it to escalate access or extract sensitive data. This could lead to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR if personal data or critical infrastructure information is exposed. Additionally, the telecommunications sector is a strategic asset in Europe, and disruptions or breaches could have broader national security implications.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Immediately audit all HPE Telco Network Function Virtual Orchestrator deployments to identify affected versions (7.0.0). 2) Restrict and monitor access to systems running the orchestrator, ensuring that only trusted administrators have high privilege local access. 3) Employ strict access control policies and multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts to reduce the risk of privilege misuse. 4) Use network segmentation and isolation to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 5) Monitor logs and system behavior for unusual access patterns or attempts to retrieve authentication keys. 6) Engage with HPE support channels to obtain patches or workarounds as they become available and apply them promptly. 7) Consider implementing compensating controls such as credential rotation, if supported, or additional encryption layers around stored keys. 8) Conduct regular security training and awareness for administrators to recognize and prevent misuse of privileged access. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access restriction, monitoring, and proactive engagement with the vendor for patching.