CVE-2025-56467 is a medium-severity vulnerability identified in the Axis Mobile App version 9.9, developed by Axis Bank Limited. The vulnerability allows attackers with limited privileges (requiring some level of authentication but no UPI PIN) to access sensitive user information such as account details, balances, transaction history, and potentially other unspecified data. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, which relates to the exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.5, indicating a medium impact primarily due to high confidentiality impact but no impact on integrity or availability. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), with low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N). The supplier claims that the exposed information is limited and intended as a feature, but from a security perspective, unauthorized access to financial data without the UPI PIN is a significant privacy and security concern. No patches or known exploits in the wild have been reported as of the publication date (September 12, 2025). This vulnerability could be exploited remotely by attackers who have some level of access to the user's account or device but do not possess the UPI PIN, potentially enabling unauthorized data harvesting and privacy violations.

For European organizations, particularly financial institutions and their customers, this vulnerability highlights risks associated with mobile banking applications that inadequately protect sensitive financial data. Although the vulnerability is specific to Axis Bank's app, it underscores the broader risk of sensitive data exposure in mobile banking apps used by European customers of multinational banks or those with cross-border banking relationships. The exposure of account balances and transaction history without full authentication can lead to privacy breaches, targeted social engineering attacks, and potential financial fraud. European data protection regulations such as GDPR impose strict requirements on the confidentiality and integrity of personal financial data, and such vulnerabilities could lead to regulatory penalties and reputational damage if exploited. Additionally, attackers could leverage exposed information to facilitate more sophisticated attacks, including identity theft or unauthorized transactions through other vectors. While the direct impact on European banks depends on the presence of Axis Bank customers or similar vulnerabilities in local apps, the incident serves as a cautionary example for European financial institutions to rigorously assess their mobile app security and data exposure risks.

1. Axis Bank should promptly review and revise the access control mechanisms in their mobile app to ensure that sensitive information such as account details, balances, and transaction history are only accessible after full authentication, including UPI PIN verification or equivalent strong authentication factors. 2. Implement granular access controls and session management to restrict data exposure based on user authentication level. 3. Conduct comprehensive security testing, including penetration testing and code audits, focusing on information disclosure vulnerabilities. 4. Enhance logging and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive data within the app. 5. For European financial institutions, conduct thorough security assessments of their own mobile banking applications to identify similar information disclosure risks and apply strict authentication requirements before revealing sensitive financial data. 6. Educate users about the importance of safeguarding authentication credentials and recognizing suspicious app behavior. 7. Coordinate with regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with data protection laws and promptly disclose vulnerabilities and remediation steps to affected customers. 8. Consider implementing additional encryption and data masking techniques within the app to minimize the impact of any potential data exposure.