CVE-2025-58758 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting the TinyEnv PHP library, versions 1.0.1, 1.0.2, 1.0.9, and 1.0.10. TinyEnv is a utility used to load environment variables from a .env file into PHP applications, facilitating configuration management. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of exceptional conditions (CWE-703), specifically the failure to require the presence of the .env file during initialization. When the .env file is missing, TinyEnv silently ignores this absence instead of alerting the application or halting execution. This behavior can cause applications to operate with missing or default configuration values, potentially leading to insecure defaults or misconfigurations. For example, security-critical parameters such as database credentials, API keys, or debug flags might be unset or fallback to insecure defaults, increasing the attack surface. The vulnerability does not require user interaction or privileges to exploit but does require local access to the environment where the PHP application runs (CVSS vector: AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). The impact on confidentiality and integrity is limited but non-negligible, as misconfigurations can expose sensitive data or weaken security controls. Availability is not affected. The issue has been addressed in TinyEnv version 1.0.11, which enforces the existence of the .env file or otherwise notifies the application. Until upgrading, users can mitigate risk by manually verifying the .env file's presence before initializing TinyEnv. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to PHP applications relying on TinyEnv for configuration management. Misconfiguration due to silent ignoring of missing .env files can lead to exposure of sensitive information, such as credentials or tokens, or enable insecure application behavior (e.g., debug mode enabled in production). This can facilitate further attacks like data breaches or privilege escalation. Organizations in sectors with strict data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) may face compliance risks if sensitive data is exposed. The vulnerability's local attack vector limits remote exploitation, but insider threats or compromised hosts could leverage this flaw. Additionally, development and staging environments might be more vulnerable if .env files are missing or mismanaged, potentially leaking information or causing deployment errors. Given the widespread use of PHP in European web applications, especially in SMEs and public sector entities, the risk is relevant but not critical. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate the risk of future exploitation.

1. Upgrade TinyEnv to version 1.0.11 or later immediately to ensure proper handling of missing .env files. 2. Implement pre-initialization checks in application code to verify the existence and readability of the .env file before loading environment variables. 3. Integrate configuration validation steps in deployment pipelines to detect missing or malformed .env files early. 4. Employ monitoring and alerting for application misconfigurations or unexpected default values, especially for security-critical parameters. 5. Conduct security reviews and audits of environment variable management practices to ensure no sensitive data is exposed due to misconfiguration. 6. Educate development and operations teams about the importance of environment file management and the risks of silent failures in configuration loading. 7. Use containerization or orchestration tools that enforce configuration file presence and integrity as part of deployment.