CVE-2025-59018 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting multiple versions of the TYPO3 CMS, specifically versions 9.0.0 through 13.4.17. The flaw resides in the Workspace Module, where missing authorization checks allow authenticated backend users with limited privileges to invoke an AJAX backend route directly. This unauthorized access enables these users to disclose sensitive information that they should not have permission to view. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, indicating an exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors. The CVSS 4.0 base score of 7.1 reflects a network exploitable vulnerability (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required beyond limited backend user access (PR:L), and no user interaction needed (UI:N). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality significantly (VC:H), while integrity and availability remain unaffected. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, but the broad range of affected TYPO3 CMS versions and the nature of the flaw make it a critical concern for organizations relying on this CMS for content management. TYPO3 is widely used in enterprise and government websites, making this vulnerability a potential vector for data leakage and information disclosure attacks.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-59018 can be substantial. TYPO3 CMS is a popular open-source content management system used by numerous public sector entities, educational institutions, and private enterprises across Europe. The exposure of sensitive information through unauthorized AJAX requests could lead to leakage of confidential data such as internal workflows, unpublished content, user information, or configuration details. This could facilitate further attacks, including social engineering, privilege escalation, or targeted exploitation of other vulnerabilities. Organizations handling personal data under GDPR face additional regulatory risks, as unauthorized data disclosure could lead to compliance violations and significant fines. The vulnerability’s ability to be exploited without user interaction and with low complexity increases the risk of automated scanning and exploitation attempts, potentially impacting the confidentiality of critical systems and undermining trust in affected organizations.

To mitigate CVE-2025-59018, European organizations should immediately assess their TYPO3 CMS installations to determine if they are running affected versions. Applying vendor-provided patches or updates as soon as they become available is the most effective mitigation step. In the absence of patches, organizations should implement strict access controls to limit backend user privileges, ensuring that only fully trusted administrators have backend access. Network-level restrictions such as IP whitelisting for backend access and web application firewalls (WAFs) configured to detect and block unauthorized AJAX route invocations can reduce exposure. Additionally, monitoring backend logs for unusual AJAX requests and anomalous user behavior can help detect exploitation attempts early. Organizations should also review and harden their workspace module configurations and consider temporarily disabling the workspace module if it is not essential. Finally, conducting regular security audits and penetration tests focusing on authorization mechanisms within TYPO3 CMS can help identify and remediate similar issues proactively.