CVE-2025-57815 is a vulnerability identified in ethyca's Fides, an open-source privacy engineering platform. The issue exists in versions prior to 2.69.1, specifically in the Fides Admin UI login endpoint. The vulnerability arises because the platform relies solely on a general IP-based rate limiting mechanism for all API traffic, without implementing specific anti-automation controls to prevent brute-force attacks. This design flaw allows attackers to perform credential testing attacks such as credential stuffing or password spraying. These attacks exploit weak or previously compromised passwords to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-307, which pertains to improper restriction of excessive authentication attempts. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 1.7, indicating a low severity level, primarily because exploitation does not require privileges or user interaction, but the impact on confidentiality is limited and no integrity or availability impacts are noted. The vulnerability does not have known exploits in the wild at the time of publication. The issue is mitigated in version 2.69.1, which presumably introduces more granular or effective anti-automation controls. For organizations using the commercial Fides Enterprise edition, enabling Single Sign-On (SSO) via an OpenID Connect (OIDC) provider such as Azure, Google, or Okta effectively eliminates the vulnerability by disabling username/password authentication entirely. However, this workaround is not available to users of the open-source version of Fides, who must upgrade to the patched version to remediate the risk.

For European organizations using Fides versions prior to 2.69.1, this vulnerability presents a risk of unauthorized account access through credential stuffing or password spraying attacks. While the CVSS score is low, the impact on confidentiality could be significant if attackers successfully compromise accounts, potentially exposing sensitive privacy engineering configurations or data. This is particularly relevant for organizations handling personal data under GDPR, where unauthorized access could lead to data breaches and regulatory penalties. The lack of specific anti-automation controls means that attackers can automate large-scale credential testing, increasing the likelihood of successful compromise if weak or reused passwords are present. The risk is higher for organizations that do not enforce strong password policies or multifactor authentication. However, the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability directly, and exploitation does not require user interaction or privileges. The availability of SSO integration as a mitigation for enterprise customers reduces the risk for those organizations. Overall, the threat is moderate in impact but could be leveraged as an initial access vector in broader attack campaigns targeting European entities.

European organizations should prioritize upgrading Fides to version 2.69.1 or later to apply the official fix that introduces specific anti-automation controls. For those using the commercial Fides Enterprise edition, configuring Single Sign-On (SSO) through a trusted OIDC provider (e.g., Azure AD, Google Workspace, Okta) is strongly recommended to disable password-based authentication entirely, thereby eliminating the attack vector. Organizations should also enforce strong password policies, including complexity and rotation requirements, to reduce the risk of credential stuffing. Implementing account lockout policies or progressive delays after failed login attempts can further mitigate brute-force risks. Monitoring login attempts for anomalous patterns and integrating with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems can help detect and respond to credential testing attacks promptly. For open-source users who cannot enable SSO, additional protective measures such as deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with bot detection capabilities or custom rate limiting per user account rather than per IP address should be considered. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on authentication mechanisms will help identify residual weaknesses.