CVE-2025-56816 is a critical security vulnerability affecting Datart version 1.0.0-rc.3. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of configuration files, specifically the ability for an attacker to upload arbitrary YAML files to the application's config/jdbc-driver-ext.yml path. Datart uses the SnakeYAML library to parse YAML files, but it employs the unsafe load() or loadAs() methods without any input sanitization or validation. This unsafe deserialization allows an attacker to craft malicious YAML content that can instantiate arbitrary Java classes during the parsing process. Under certain conditions, this can lead to remote code execution (RCE), enabling attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the server hosting the application. The vulnerability is a form of directory traversal combined with unsafe deserialization, which is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and execute code remotely without authentication or user interaction. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the nature of this vulnerability makes it a high-risk issue that could be exploited by attackers to compromise affected systems.

For European organizations using Datart 1.0.0-rc.3, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise, data theft, disruption of services, or use of the compromised system as a foothold for lateral movement within corporate networks. Given that Datart is a data visualization and business intelligence tool, attackers could gain access to sensitive business data, intellectual property, or customer information. This could result in severe confidentiality breaches and potential regulatory non-compliance under GDPR. Additionally, the ability to execute arbitrary code remotely could allow attackers to deploy ransomware or other malware, causing operational downtime and financial losses. The lack of authentication or user interaction requirements means that attackers could exploit this vulnerability remotely and stealthily, increasing the threat level for organizations relying on this software in their data analytics infrastructure.

To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should immediately upgrade to a patched version of Datart once available. In the absence of an official patch, organizations should restrict or disable the ability to upload or modify YAML configuration files, especially the config/jdbc-driver-ext.yml file. Implement strict access controls and file integrity monitoring on configuration directories to detect unauthorized changes. Additionally, consider sandboxing or isolating the Datart application environment to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Reviewing and restricting the permissions of the user account running Datart can reduce the potential damage from an RCE attack. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls (WAFs) can be tuned to detect and block suspicious upload attempts or malformed YAML payloads. Finally, monitoring logs for unusual activity related to configuration file access or parsing errors can provide early warning signs of exploitation attempts.