CVE-2025-49493 is a medium-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-611, which pertains to Improper Restriction of XML External Entity (XXE) Reference. This vulnerability affects Akamai CloudTest versions prior to 60 2025.06.02 (build 12988). The flaw allows an attacker to exploit the XML parser used by CloudTest to perform XXE injection, enabling unauthorized file inclusion. Specifically, the vulnerability arises because the XML parser does not properly restrict external entity references, allowing crafted XML input to cause the application to access local files or resources that should be inaccessible. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.8, reflecting a network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and a scope change (S:C). The impact is limited to confidentiality loss (C:L) with no integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N) impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or mitigation links have been provided at this time. The vulnerability could be leveraged by remote unauthenticated attackers to read sensitive files on the system running CloudTest, potentially exposing configuration files, credentials, or other sensitive data. Given CloudTest's role as a performance and load testing tool, exploitation could also lead to information disclosure about internal testing environments or infrastructure.

For European organizations using Akamai CloudTest, this vulnerability poses a risk of sensitive information disclosure. Since CloudTest is often used in development and testing environments, attackers exploiting this XXE flaw could gain access to internal configuration files, credentials, or proprietary data, which could facilitate further attacks or intellectual property theft. The confidentiality breach could undermine compliance with GDPR and other data protection regulations, leading to legal and financial repercussions. Although the vulnerability does not directly affect system integrity or availability, the exposure of sensitive data could indirectly impact operational security and trust. Organizations relying on CloudTest for critical testing workflows may also face disruption if exploitation leads to the need for emergency remediation or forensic investigation. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the ease of exploitation (no privileges or user interaction required) means that attackers could quickly develop exploits once details become public.

European organizations should immediately assess their use of Akamai CloudTest and identify any instances running versions prior to 60 2025.06.02 (12988). Until an official patch is released, organizations should implement the following mitigations: 1) Restrict network access to CloudTest instances, limiting exposure to trusted IP addresses and internal networks only. 2) Employ XML parser configurations that disable external entity processing or use secure XML parsing libraries that prevent XXE attacks. 3) Monitor logs for suspicious XML payloads or unexpected file access attempts. 4) Conduct internal code and configuration reviews to ensure no other XML processing components are vulnerable to XXE. 5) Prepare for rapid patch deployment once Akamai releases an official fix. 6) Educate development and testing teams about the risks of XXE and safe XML handling practices. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on immediate containment and secure XML parsing configurations specific to the CloudTest environment.