CVE-2025-52633 identifies a security weakness in HCL AION version 2.0, where sensitive session information is stored within permanent cookies. This practice violates secure session management principles because persistent cookies remain on the client device beyond the session lifetime, increasing the risk that an attacker who gains access to the cookie can impersonate the user or hijack the session. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-539, which highlights the risk of storing sensitive data in persistent cookies. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 3.1, indicating a low severity due to the requirement for high privileges (PR:H) and user interaction (UI:R) to exploit, as well as the attack complexity (AC:H). The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), meaning exploitation can occur remotely, but the scope remains unchanged (S:U). The impact primarily affects confidentiality (C:L) with no direct impact on integrity or availability. Although no public exploits are known, the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks where attackers intercept or steal cookies, such as through man-in-the-middle attacks or compromised client devices. The lack of a patch link suggests that remediation may require configuration changes or updates from HCL. Organizations relying on HCL AION 2.0 should audit their session management and cookie handling to mitigate risks associated with persistent sensitive cookies.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate confidentiality risk, particularly for those handling sensitive or regulated data through HCL AION 2.0. If attackers intercept or steal persistent cookies, they could gain unauthorized access to user sessions, potentially leading to data exposure or unauthorized actions within the application. Although the vulnerability does not directly affect integrity or availability, unauthorized access can have downstream effects such as data leakage or compliance violations under GDPR. The requirement for high privileges and user interaction reduces the likelihood of widespread exploitation but does not eliminate targeted attack risks. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, where HCL AION may be used for critical workflows, should be especially vigilant. The low CVSS score should not lead to complacency, as persistent cookies containing sensitive data can be a stepping stone for more severe attacks.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should: 1) Review and modify cookie management policies to avoid storing sensitive session information in persistent cookies; use session cookies with appropriate expiration instead. 2) Implement secure cookie attributes such as HttpOnly, Secure, and SameSite to reduce the risk of interception and cross-site attacks. 3) Employ encryption or tokenization for any sensitive data that must be stored client-side. 4) Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on session management and cookie handling. 5) Monitor network traffic for signs of cookie theft or session hijacking attempts. 6) Engage with HCL for official patches or updates addressing this issue. 7) Educate users about the risks of session hijacking and encourage safe browsing practices. 8) Consider implementing multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of compromised session tokens. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on cookie-specific controls and organizational processes tailored to HCL AION deployments.