CVE-2025-5731 is a vulnerability identified in Red Hat Data Grid version 8.5.4, specifically within the Infinispan Command Line Interface (CLI). The flaw arises from the handling of sensitive passwords that are decoded from Base64-encoded Kubernetes secrets. When a user issues a command that is not recognized by the CLI, the system generates an error message that inadvertently includes the plaintext password within the command string. This exposure occurs because the password is processed and embedded directly in the error output without adequate sanitization or masking. The vulnerability is classified with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.2, reflecting a medium severity level. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring no privileges (PR:N) or user interaction (UI:N), and the impact is limited to confidentiality (C:H), with no effect on integrity or availability. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the exposure of sensitive credentials in error messages could allow an attacker with local access to retrieve passwords, potentially leading to unauthorized access to Kubernetes secrets or other sensitive resources managed by Red Hat Data Grid. The vulnerability highlights a failure in secure error handling and sensitive data protection within the CLI tool, emphasizing the need for improved input validation and output sanitization in software components that handle secrets.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-5731 is the potential exposure of sensitive Kubernetes secret passwords through error messages in Red Hat Data Grid's Infinispan CLI. This exposure could allow an attacker with local access to obtain credentials that may grant further access to critical infrastructure or data stores. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise system integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach can facilitate lateral movement, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration if attackers leverage the exposed credentials effectively. Organizations relying heavily on Red Hat Data Grid within Kubernetes environments, especially those managing sensitive or regulated data, face increased risk of compliance violations and reputational damage if such leaks occur. The requirement for local access limits the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, particularly in environments where multiple users share access or where attackers have already gained footholds through other means. Additionally, the lack of user interaction and privileges needed to exploit the flaw means that even low-privileged users or automated processes could inadvertently trigger sensitive data exposure.

To mitigate CVE-2025-5731, European organizations should implement several specific measures beyond generic best practices: 1) Restrict and tightly control local access to systems running Red Hat Data Grid, ensuring only trusted administrators and processes can execute CLI commands. 2) Monitor and audit error logs generated by the Infinispan CLI for any instances of sensitive data leakage, and implement log redaction or masking where feasible. 3) Apply the official patches or updates from Red Hat as soon as they become available to address the underlying flaw in error message handling. 4) Review Kubernetes secret management practices to minimize the exposure of sensitive data in Base64-encoded formats and consider additional encryption or access controls. 5) Educate administrators and users about the risks of executing invalid commands and encourage validation of CLI inputs to reduce the likelihood of triggering error messages containing sensitive information. 6) Employ runtime security tools that can detect anomalous access patterns or unauthorized attempts to retrieve error messages or secrets. 7) Consider isolating Red Hat Data Grid instances in hardened environments with minimal user interaction to reduce the attack surface. These targeted actions will help reduce the risk of credential exposure and subsequent exploitation.