CVE-2025-37149 identifies an out-of-bound read vulnerability (CWE-125) in the UEFI firmware of Hewlett Packard Enterprise's ProLiant RL300 Gen11 Server. UEFI firmware operates at a low level, initializing hardware and booting the operating system. An out-of-bound read occurs when the firmware reads memory beyond the intended buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive data stored in adjacent memory regions. This vulnerability requires local access with high privileges (PR:H), meaning an attacker must already have significant control over the system to exploit it. No user interaction is needed (UI:N), and the vulnerability affects confidentiality (C:H) but not integrity or availability. The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that exploitation could affect resources beyond the vulnerable component, potentially leaking sensitive information from other system parts. The CVSS vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:N) reflects that the attack surface is limited to local access, with low attack complexity and no user interaction. Although no public exploits or patches are currently available, the vulnerability poses a risk of data leakage from firmware memory, which may include cryptographic keys, passwords, or other sensitive information critical to system security. Firmware vulnerabilities are particularly concerning because they operate below the OS level and can be difficult to detect or mitigate without vendor updates.

For European organizations, the confidentiality breach caused by this vulnerability could expose sensitive corporate or governmental data, cryptographic keys, or system configuration details stored in UEFI memory. This could facilitate further attacks such as privilege escalation, firmware manipulation, or persistent malware implantation. Organizations in sectors like finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure that rely on HPE ProLiant RL300 Gen11 Servers are at heightened risk. The local access requirement limits the threat to insiders or attackers who have already compromised a system, but the potential for sensitive data exposure remains significant. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability directly, so operational disruption is unlikely. However, the exposure of confidential data could lead to compliance violations under GDPR and other data protection regulations, resulting in legal and reputational damage. The lack of current exploits reduces immediate risk, but the medium severity rating and firmware-level nature of the flaw necessitate prompt attention.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Monitor Hewlett Packard Enterprise advisories closely and apply firmware updates or patches immediately once released to address CVE-2025-37149. 2) Restrict local administrative access to HPE ProLiant RL300 Gen11 Servers to trusted personnel only, using strong authentication and access controls to minimize the risk of privilege misuse. 3) Employ hardware-based security features such as TPM and secure boot to detect unauthorized firmware modifications. 4) Conduct regular firmware integrity checks and audits to identify anomalies or unauthorized changes. 5) Use network segmentation and endpoint detection to limit lateral movement if an attacker gains local access. 6) Implement strict logging and monitoring of privileged user activities on affected servers to detect suspicious behavior early. 7) Educate IT staff about the risks of firmware vulnerabilities and the importance of timely patching. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, monitoring, and firmware integrity specific to the affected hardware.