CVE-2025-45379 is an OS command injection vulnerability identified in Dell CloudLink, a product used for cloud security and workload protection. The flaw exists in versions prior to 8.2 and is caused by improper neutralization of special elements in OS commands, classified under CWE-78. Specifically, a privileged user who already has valid credentials can inject malicious commands through the console interface, which the system executes without proper sanitization. This allows the attacker to gain shell-level access to the underlying system, leading to full control over the affected host. The vulnerability requires authenticated access with high privileges but does not require additional user interaction, making it a direct threat once credentials are compromised or known. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.4 reflects high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no user interaction needed. Although no public exploits have been observed in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the potential for privilege escalation and system takeover. Dell has not yet released patches, so mitigation currently relies on access control and monitoring. This vulnerability is particularly concerning for environments where Dell CloudLink is deployed to protect critical cloud workloads, as exploitation could lead to data breaches, service disruption, or further network compromise.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-45379 is substantial. Compromise of Dell CloudLink instances could lead to unauthorized shell access, allowing attackers to exfiltrate sensitive data, modify or destroy critical information, and disrupt cloud services. This could affect sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure that rely on Dell CloudLink for cloud security. The vulnerability's exploitation could facilitate lateral movement within networks, increasing the risk of widespread compromise. Given the high privileges required, the threat is more likely to materialize from insider threats or attackers who have already obtained privileged credentials. The potential for full system control also raises concerns about ransomware deployment or persistent backdoors. The absence of patches increases the window of exposure, making proactive mitigation essential. Additionally, regulatory compliance frameworks in Europe (e.g., GDPR, NIS Directive) may impose reporting obligations if breaches occur due to this vulnerability.

1. Immediately restrict and audit privileged user access to Dell CloudLink consoles, ensuring only authorized personnel have such rights. 2. Implement strong multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all privileged accounts to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3. Monitor and log all command executions on CloudLink consoles, setting up alerts for suspicious or anomalous command patterns. 4. Employ network segmentation to isolate CloudLink management interfaces from general user networks and limit exposure. 5. Regularly review and rotate privileged credentials to minimize the risk of known password exploitation. 6. Stay in close contact with Dell for updates and apply patches or security advisories as soon as they are released. 7. Conduct internal penetration testing and vulnerability assessments focusing on CloudLink deployments to identify potential exploitation paths. 8. Educate privileged users about the risks of credential sharing and the importance of secure password management. 9. Consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect unusual shell activity stemming from CloudLink hosts. 10. Develop and test incident response plans specific to CloudLink compromise scenarios to ensure rapid containment and recovery.