CVE-2025-40885 is a medium-severity SQL Injection vulnerability identified in the Smart Polling functionality of Nozomi Networks Guardian, a cybersecurity product used primarily for operational technology (OT) and industrial control system (ICS) monitoring. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements in an input parameter that is incorporated into SQL commands without adequate sanitization or parameterization. An authenticated user with limited privileges can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary SELECT SQL queries against the backend database. This can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information stored within the database, such as configuration data, user information, or operational logs. The vulnerability does not allow modification or deletion of data, limiting the impact to confidentiality rather than integrity or availability. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates network attack vector (AV:N), high attack complexity (AC:H), partial authentication required (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and high impact on confidentiality (VC:H). No known public exploits have been reported yet, but the presence of this vulnerability in a critical OT security product raises concerns about potential targeted attacks. The affected versions are unspecified (version '0' listed), suggesting the need for vendor clarification and patch availability. The vulnerability was reserved in April 2025 and published in October 2025, indicating recent discovery. Given the role of Nozomi Networks Guardian in monitoring industrial environments, exploitation could expose sensitive operational data, aiding adversaries in reconnaissance or further attacks.

For European organizations, especially those operating critical infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, and utilities sectors, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized data exposure. The ability for a low-privilege authenticated user to extract sensitive information from the Guardian database could lead to leakage of operational details, network topology, or security configurations. This information could be leveraged by threat actors to plan more sophisticated attacks against industrial control systems, potentially disrupting services or causing safety incidents. While the vulnerability does not allow data modification or system disruption directly, the confidentiality breach alone is significant given the sensitive nature of OT environments. European entities relying on Nozomi Networks Guardian for OT security monitoring must consider the risk of insider threats or compromised user credentials enabling exploitation. Additionally, regulatory frameworks such as NIS2 and GDPR emphasize protection of critical infrastructure and personal data, making exploitation potentially subject to compliance violations and penalties.

1. Immediately verify the version of Nozomi Networks Guardian in use and consult the vendor for official patches or updates addressing CVE-2025-40885. 2. If patches are not yet available, implement strict input validation and sanitization on all user-supplied parameters related to Smart Polling functionality, ideally using parameterized queries or prepared statements. 3. Restrict database user permissions to the minimum necessary, ensuring that accounts used by the web application cannot perform arbitrary SELECT queries beyond their intended scope. 4. Monitor database query logs and application logs for unusual or unexpected SELECT statements that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5. Enforce strong authentication and access controls to limit the number of users with access to the vulnerable functionality, and regularly review user privileges. 6. Employ network segmentation and isolate OT monitoring systems from general IT networks to reduce exposure. 7. Conduct security awareness training for administrators and users to recognize and report suspicious activity. 8. Prepare incident response plans specific to OT environments to quickly address potential breaches involving this vulnerability.