CVE-2025-54470 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-295 (Improper Certificate Validation) affecting SUSE NeuVector versions 5.3.0, 5.4.0, and a specific build. The issue manifests when the 'Report anonymous cluster data' telemetry feature is enabled. NeuVector transmits anonymous telemetry data to its telemetry server but fails to enforce TLS certificate verification during this communication. This lack of certificate validation allows attackers positioned on the network path to perform man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, intercepting or modifying telemetry data in transit. Such interception can lead to leakage of potentially sensitive cluster metadata or manipulation of telemetry information, undermining confidentiality and integrity. Furthermore, NeuVector loads the telemetry server's response into memory without imposing size limits, creating a vector for Denial of Service (DoS) attacks by sending oversized responses that exhaust system resources. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.6, indicating high severity, with attack vector being network-based, no privileges or user interaction required, and impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. While no exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to environments relying on NeuVector for container security and telemetry. The flaw primarily affects telemetry data transmission, which is optional but often enabled for monitoring and analytics purposes. The absence of certificate validation is a critical security oversight, especially given the sensitivity of cluster telemetry data in Kubernetes and container orchestration contexts. The DoS aspect further exacerbates the risk by potentially disrupting NeuVector's operation and cluster security monitoring capabilities.

For European organizations, especially those operating cloud-native infrastructure and containerized environments, this vulnerability can lead to several adverse impacts. Confidentiality of telemetry data is compromised, potentially exposing cluster metadata or operational details to attackers. Integrity is at risk since attackers could modify telemetry data, misleading security monitoring or analytics. The DoS vulnerability can disrupt NeuVector's telemetry functions, impairing security visibility and potentially affecting cluster stability. Organizations relying on NeuVector for compliance or security posture monitoring may face gaps in detection and response capabilities. Given the network-based attack vector and lack of authentication requirements, attackers with network access (e.g., internal threat actors or compromised network segments) can exploit this vulnerability. This is particularly concerning for critical infrastructure sectors, financial institutions, and large enterprises in Europe that use NeuVector for container security. The impact extends to operational continuity and regulatory compliance, as telemetry data integrity and availability are crucial for security audits and incident investigations.

1. Immediately disable the 'Report anonymous cluster data' telemetry option in NeuVector deployments until a vendor patch or update is available. 2. Monitor network traffic for unusual TLS connections or telemetry data flows, employing network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) capable of detecting MITM attempts or anomalous packet sizes. 3. Implement strict network segmentation and zero-trust principles to limit exposure of telemetry communication channels to untrusted networks or actors. 4. Use TLS interception detection tools to identify any unauthorized interception or certificate spoofing on telemetry traffic. 5. Regularly update NeuVector to the latest versions once patches addressing this vulnerability are released by SUSE. 6. Conduct internal audits of telemetry data integrity and availability to detect anomalies that could indicate exploitation attempts. 7. Educate security teams about the risks of enabling telemetry features without proper certificate validation and enforce secure configuration baselines. 8. Consider alternative telemetry aggregation methods that enforce strict certificate validation or use private telemetry servers within controlled environments.