CVE-2025-41245 is an information disclosure vulnerability identified in VMware Aria Operations version 8.18.x. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-1188, which relates to improper access control leading to unauthorized information disclosure. Specifically, a malicious actor who has non-administrative privileges within Aria Operations can exploit this flaw to disclose credentials belonging to other users of the system. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and can be exploited remotely over the network (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L), but requires the attacker to have high privileges (PR:H) within the application, though not administrative rights. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality (C:H) but does not affect integrity or availability. VMware Aria Operations is a cloud management and monitoring platform used to optimize and manage hybrid cloud environments, making it a critical tool for IT operations teams. The exposure of user credentials could lead to lateral movement, privilege escalation, or unauthorized access to sensitive operational data. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the medium CVSS score of 4.9 reflects a moderate risk primarily due to the prerequisite of elevated privileges within the application. The lack of a published patch at the time of disclosure indicates that organizations must rely on mitigations until an official fix is available.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for enterprises and service providers relying on VMware Aria Operations to manage their cloud infrastructure. Disclosure of user credentials could lead to unauthorized access to critical cloud management functions, potentially allowing attackers to gather sensitive operational data or prepare for further attacks such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. This could disrupt business continuity, compromise data confidentiality, and increase the risk of compliance violations under regulations like GDPR. Organizations in sectors with stringent data protection requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and government, are particularly at risk. The vulnerability's requirement for non-administrative but elevated privileges means that insider threats or compromised accounts could be leveraged to exploit this flaw, emphasizing the need for strict internal access controls and monitoring.

1. Implement strict role-based access controls (RBAC) within VMware Aria Operations to limit non-administrative users' privileges and reduce the risk of credential disclosure. 2. Enforce strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), to protect user accounts and reduce the likelihood of account compromise. 3. Monitor and audit user activities within Aria Operations to detect unusual access patterns or attempts to access credential information. 4. Isolate Aria Operations management interfaces within secure network segments and restrict access to trusted IP ranges to minimize exposure. 5. Regularly review and rotate credentials used within Aria Operations to limit the window of opportunity for attackers. 6. Stay informed about VMware's security advisories and apply patches promptly once available. 7. Consider deploying additional endpoint and network security controls to detect and prevent lateral movement in case of credential compromise. 8. Conduct security awareness training for users with elevated privileges to recognize and report suspicious activities.