CVE-2025-56396 is a vulnerability identified in Ruoyi version 4.8.1, an enterprise-level management software platform. The issue stems from an access control weakness where the owning department's permissions are higher than those of the active user, allowing attackers to escalate privileges improperly. This is classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control). The vulnerability does not require user interaction and can be exploited remotely (Attack Vector: Network) with low attack complexity and only requires privileges at the user level (PR:L). The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, meaning an attacker could gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify critical information, or disrupt services. Although no public exploits or patches are currently available, the flaw represents a significant risk due to the potential for lateral movement within an organization’s network. The vulnerability highlights a design flaw in how Ruoyi manages departmental rights versus individual user rights, allowing privilege escalation without proper checks. Organizations relying on Ruoyi should prioritize auditing their access control configurations and prepare for imminent patching once available.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-56396 could be substantial. Privilege escalation vulnerabilities enable attackers to bypass normal user restrictions, potentially gaining administrative control over systems. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, intellectual property theft, or disruption of critical business processes. In sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, where Ruoyi or similar platforms might be used for internal management, the risk is amplified due to the sensitivity of the data handled. The vulnerability could facilitate insider threats or external attackers pivoting within networks, increasing the attack surface. Additionally, regulatory compliance risks arise, especially under GDPR, as unauthorized data access or breaches must be reported and can result in heavy fines. The lack of patches and known exploits means organizations must act proactively to mitigate risk before attackers develop working exploits.

1. Conduct an immediate audit of access control policies within Ruoyi installations, focusing on department-level permissions versus individual user rights. 2. Implement the principle of least privilege by ensuring users and departments have only the minimum necessary permissions. 3. Monitor logs and alerts for unusual privilege escalations or access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 4. Segment network access to limit lateral movement opportunities if escalation occurs. 5. Engage with Ruoyi vendors or community to obtain patches or updates as soon as they become available. 6. Consider deploying compensating controls such as multi-factor authentication and enhanced session monitoring for privileged accounts. 7. Educate IT and security teams about this vulnerability to ensure rapid response capability. 8. If possible, temporarily restrict or isolate systems running vulnerable versions until patches are applied. 9. Review and update incident response plans to include scenarios involving privilege escalation attacks. 10. Collaborate with cybersecurity information sharing groups to stay informed about emerging exploit techniques related to this vulnerability.